Bellingham hospital reports staff, supply resources ‘adequate’ to battle coronavirus
“Several” PeaceHealth caregivers at Bellingham’s St. Joseph hospital and at Whatcom County clinics have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, a hospital official said, but none were exposed through their work with patients and illnesses haven’t hurt staffing levels.
The hospital reports that it currently has “adequate” staffing and supplies to treat patients as the pandemic continues to spread, according to a statement by PeaceHealth Northwest Chief Executive Charles Prosper in response to questions from The Bellingham Herald.
Prosper’s statement came days after veteran St. Joseph emergency room doctor Ming Lin in a Seattle Times story criticized the hospital’s coronavirus response and said it puts caregivers at risk. Lin, who works for a physician service that contracts with PeaceHealth, said the hospital was lagging behind other emergency facilities in preparing for the expected increase in patients needing critical care.
“Understandably, this is an unsettling time for all of us in the community, and likely more so for the front-line caregivers at the hospital and in our clinics,” Prosper statement read in response to the concerns raised by Lin. “Nothing is a higher priority for us than the safety of our caregivers and providers — the true heroes in this crisis.”
Prosper added that working to prepare PeaceHealth’s facilities began as soon as it appeared COVID-19 would spread to Northwest Washington and included input from physician experts in emergency care, infectious disease, intensive care and medicine.
“This group of physicians has guided our overall emergency response and has worked tirelessly, on-site and integrated with our hospital incident command center,” Prosper wrote.
Prosper said the group focused its efforts on three areas: ensuring facilities had adequate and appropriate space to care for highly infectious patients, equipment necessary to keep caregivers safe and properly treat patients, and that hospitals were properly staffed.
“To date we have created additional space for segregation of patients, have adequate staff and stable supplies,” Prosper wrote.
Hospital staffing
Though Prosper reported “there have been several PeaceHealth caregivers between the medical center and clinics diagnosed” with COVID-19 in Whatcom County, he wrote none were exposed through their care of patients.
“Fortunately, we have expert guidance by our public health departments and PeaceHealth’s Invention Prevention and Employee Health teams and follow rigorous protocols to determine possible additional exposure,” Prosper wrote.
The hospital’s patient load also is down during the pandemic, according to Prosper, “so we have had more than adequate staffing.”
Lynn Sterbenz, emergency manager for the city of Bellingham, answered Bellingham City Council members’ questions at its meeting Monday night, March 23, and said the hospital is ready for a surge of coronavirus patients. She estimated the hospital currently is at 70% to 75% of capacity.
Hospital resources
The hospital currently has enough supplies to treat patients and keep caregivers safe, Prosper reported, and is coordinating closely with Whatcom Unified Command in an effort to remain stocked.
In anticipation of a surge of patients, Prosper said the hospital has:
▪ Formed a coalition of health care providers throughout Whatcom County who use personal protection equipment, such as masks, gowns and gloves, and asked them to inventory supplies they have on hand. The coalition also was asked to order more supplies from their suppliers and hold them for use in the hospital, in case the need arises.
▪ Reached out to other partners that have supplies that could be used in a healthcare setting.
▪ Worked with manufacturers and university faculty and students to find new ways to manufacture some critical supplies.
▪ Created a way for others to donate supplies they have at home, sew masks that act as a secondary protective cover over surgical masks and volunteer in other ways.
Prosper reported a supply drop off program was started Tuesday, March 24, allowing residents to drop off gloves, gowns or other items they have that could be used in healthcare between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Grabow Therapy and Wellness Center, 3217 Squalicum Parkway, in Bellingham.
Those with more than 100 of any item are asked to use the Whatcom Unified Command Center dropoff location at 4233 Guide Meridian, Suite 101, Prosper said, adding that the Whatcom County Donation Branch Manager is Rud Browne, who can be contacted at WUC_Donations@co.whatcom.wa.us.
“We have been profoundly gratified by the outpouring of support for our caregivers and providers,” Prosper wrote. “Our community is stepping up to help in a number of ways that are truly inspiring. I believe that this is a moment in time when we need to act in a single unified effort, all together working with the single goal of helping to prevent the spread of this virus.”
Hospital space
Though space hasn’t become an issue yet — Whatcom County had a total of 66 confirmed cases and two deaths, according to the health department late Wednesday morning, March 23 — Prosper reported the hospital has taken steps to prepare.
Those steps, according to Prosper, include:
▪ Preparing an overflow area in the hospital and having a conversion plan for three additional units that “can easily be modified to treat people with the appropriate infrastructure such as ventilators and physiologic monitoring.”
▪ Installing a tent outside the hospital’s emergency department to use for patient evaluation if inside gets too full.
▪ Coordinating with Whatcom Unified Command on a plan to provide care outside the main hospital should the need become necessary. PeaceHealth has suggested a location close to the hospital as a potential overflow location, “allowing easier access to higher level of services should a patient require.”
Anticipating a surge
In anticipation of a potential surge in the number of Whatcom County residents suffering from COVID-19, the hospital also took the following steps:
▪ Testing: While testing supplies and the time it takes to receive results continues to be a national issue, Prosper reported to The Herald that “we expect new, local testing options will improve turnaround times for those meeting criteria for testing. These new tests will be available in approximately one week.”
▪ Visitors: The hospital restricted visitors and non-essential people who enter the hospital to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, Prosper wrote in a letter sent to the Whatcom community Friday, March 20.
▪ Screening: The hospital clinics have implemented temperature screening for anyone who enters the building, and those with elevated temperature or other coronavirus-related symptoms, including employees, are turned away, Prosper wrote in the letter.
▪ Surgeries: The hospital canceled or postponed all elective procedures to make sure resources remain ready for critically ill patients and limit the chances for exposure in the hospital, Prosper reported in the letter.
▪ Conservation: St. Joseph also implemented a conservation plan for personal protection equipment in an effort to ensure facilities remain adequately stocked, Prosper wrote.
“The COVID-19 situation changes quickly, often by the hour, and we will continue to swiftly make changes and adapt as it develops,” Prosper wrote in the letter.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
COVID-19, the new coronavirus, is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2.
The disease is spread through contact between people within six feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.
Although most of the cases have been mild, the disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.
Click the drop-down icon in the upper right of this card for more information on symptoms and how to stop its spread.
What you can do
Here’s what you can do to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, according to the Whatcom County Health Department.
▪ Keep six feet between yourself and others when in public.
▪ Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
▪ Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with hands that haven’t been washed.
▪ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw the tissue in the trash and then wash your hands.
▪ Stay home if you feel sick. Avoid others who are sick.
▪ If your symptoms are severe and require medical care, call your doctor first.
