I have been receiving many emails and calls from you all, sharing your experiences and frustration during this very challenging time in healthcare. Our hospitals are experiencing very high census in both the inpatient units and the emergency departments. A large number of our patients are critically ill while at the same time, we continue to care for an average of 50 COVID patients each day.
 
Of course, this comes at a time when all hospitals, especially those in Central New York, are experiencing severe shortages of staff. We’re working hard to bring in more staff but there is great competition not only for clinicians, but for all of the available positions in our organization. Believe me, if we could find more nurses and care techs, we’d hire them. In fact, we have brought in graduate nurse externs and are in the midst of hiring care techs and nurses – but we know more is essential. Know that we are trying to bring you some relief.
 
This is an unprecedented time in the healthcare industry, and not just because of COVID, although this virus certainly has exacerbated issues such as staffing. All hospitals – in our region, in our state, and across the nation – are grappling with the significant and growing demand for services while struggling with staff shortages. So, we are not alone.
 
But, what I do know is that this is hard. It is very hard on all of you and I know you are stressed. I know you are exhausted. I know you are frustrated. I want you to know that you are appreciated and your sacrifices are not going unnoticed. Throughout the COVID pandemic, we called you all our healthcare heroes – you are and you remain so, perhaps now more than ever. On behalf of the senior team, the Board of Directors and member of the Medical Staff, a sincere thank you for sticking with us during this very tough time, for your commitment to our patients and each other, and for going above and beyond every single day.

Given our current situation – an average of 50 COVID patients each day, steadily growing census of acutely ill patients, and the stresses on our employees – we will be changing our visitation policy. The following changes will go into effect on Monday, October 18, 2021, which gives us time to communicate to the community and our current visitors. 

• Inpatient visiting hours will remain 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. During these designated visiting hours only two visitors will be allowed. Those two may go to the patient room together or separately, but “switching” out for two additional visitors will no longer be allowed.
• Only one support person will be allowed to accompany an ED patient given the high volumes in our EDs and the need to appropriate social distance both patients and support persons.
• We will be limiting the number of support people and visitors who can wait in the lobby and waiting rooms to be able to adhere appropriate social distancing.
• Decisions for any exceptions will be made only by the Hospital Supervisor.

The remainder of the visitor policy stays in place, such as two support persons for pediatric patients, one support person who can remain with patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and patients with cognitive impairments through their hospitalization (with an additional visitor being with the patient during hospital-designated visiting hours), and two support persons for patients in imminent end-of-life situations.

Many thanks to the Radiology Department at the St. Elizabeth Campus for hosting today’s traveling safety huddle. We appreciate your hospitality.

Please join me in welcoming:
 
Dr. Jerome Rosenstein, an OB/GYN who specializes in providing care to women across the continuum of care, including prenatal, antepartum and postpartum gynecological care. He also provides support and care to women through the perimenopause and menopausal processes. Click here for his full bio and here for his welcome video!


 
Kristin Rutherford, FNP-C, who has joined the MVHS Oneida Medical Office as a certified family nurse practitioner, where she will provide care to patients of all ages. Check out her full bio here.

For the last 18 months, MVHS has been working with other healthcare organizations in the development of a peer support program for providers, nurses, and residents, which is now called Clinician Peer Support Program of Central New York (CPSP-CNY). This program was initially piloted with MVHS, Bassett Healthcare, Upstate University Hospital, Auburn Community Hospital, and Oneida Health, and the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) has expanded the program throughout New York State. The goal of this voluntary program is to reduce clinician distress and burnout through confidential peer support from a trained supporter outside their home organization. And, if particularly stressful situations are identified, the trained supporters reach out proactively to offer peer support.
 
CPSP-CNY is asking for your assistance. Please complete a survey that will help to identify units that may be under great stress and to identify how peer support can be best deployed for those units as well as for individuals experiencing burnout. The survey asks questions about job satisfaction, work load, burnout, use of EMR and support by peers. These surveys are to be completed by physicians, PAs and NPs, nurses and residents. 

• The surveys are voluntary and confidential.
• The survey link below is being sent to MVHS clinicians (employed and non-employed) via an MVHS email. This ensures that individual e-mail addresses will not be given out to the CPSP –CNY.
• It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
• The survey should be completed no later than Wednesday, November 3, 2021. 

The survey can be accessed by clicking on the link that pertains to your position:

• PROVIDER Survey https://redcap.bassett.org/redcap/surveys/?s=RM33JHJKHF
• NURSES Survey https://redcap.bassett.org/redcap/surveys/?s=C77HYW99W4
• RESIDENT Survey https://redcap.bassett.org/redcap/surveys/?s=TF3FFPHX9K 

The survey responses will not only help the CPSP program but will also give MVHS insight into the highly stressed clinical units and trends in workplace burnout and stress.
 
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please reach out to Dr. William Ryan at wryan@mvhealthsystem.org.

Many thanks to the team pictured below who worked extremely hard to achieve a very favorable outcome in our bond financing last Thursday. Although the municipal bond market had a tough week last week, our team did a great job getting MVHS very favorable terms. Great work!

This week, the Medical Imaging Department conducted its staff meeting at the Utica National Building overlooking The Wynn Hospital. Great idea! If you would like to hold your department meeting at this site, please contact Bob Scholfield.

This week we heard a new rumor that there is black mold throughout the new Wynn Hospital and that we are covering it up. This is absolutely NOT true. Gilbane, our construction management firm, has very strict protocols in place to monitor for this. We also use mold resistant materials in the construction (e.g. mold resistant insulation) and remove any materials that get wet. For example, when we had that large microburst a month or so ago, some materials in the building got wet and those materials were removed and replaced to ensure mold would not grow. We would certainly not build a new, state-of-the-art hospital with mold in the walls!

This month is Medical Librarians Month! When you see our librarians, be sure to thank them!
 
This week is also National Physician Assistants Week. Thanks to our PAs for all you do!

The Breast Cancer Collaborative Registry is a nationwide program that was created by the University of Nebraska to help battle breast cancer. It involves the collection of health information that can be used to develop prevention and treatment strategies against breast cancer. Check out the flyer below to find out how you can help.

Because we are Corporate Partners with the Utica Comets, our employees can purchase tickets for the SOLD OUT Home Opener on Sunday, October 17. Puck drop is at 3 p.m., doors open at 1:30 p.m. You can purchase these tickets by clicking here. Go Comets!

On the morning of Sunday, October 10, 2021, there will be several road closures for the Boilermaker Road Race. Most road closings will begin between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. Roads should re-open after noon on Sunday. Alternate routes must be used to access both the St. Luke’s and Faxton Campuses.
 
The St. Luke’s Campus will only be accessible via the Burrstone Road – Eastbound entrance. There will be no access through Champlin Avenue.
 
For the Faxton Campus, Burrstone Road at the Sunset Avenue intersection and Burrstone Road at the Bennett Street intersection will be closed. Employees and Medical Staff can enter and exit using the Sunset Avenue or Lincoln Avenue entrances but will be unable to cross Burrstone Road or turn left onto Bennett Street from Burrstone Road.
 
Good luck to all the participants!