9 Months into the Pandemic - View from the Frontline By: Angela Kitashoji, Infection Control Coordinator BRAVERY CHANGE GRIEF SADNESS TRIUMPH FEAR PRAYER TEAMWORK PERSEVERANCE It's hard to describe our COVID experience at Marion General Hospital in 150 words or less, Prayer- the opportunity to pray with a patient or coworker in a time of health crisis. but let's take a walk around the hospital in · Perseverance and Teamwork- Health care workers get COVID too and are off work during carly December of 2020. You will see: recovery. Caregivers from physician offices come Triumph - a patient goes home after a long stay. First on the Telemetry unit, then on to to the hospital to assist on the weekends. In trying to stay healthy. I find myself being mindful of everything I touch from doorknobs to Critical Care on a ventilator. After a month, comes a Rehab stay. Finally, the wonderftul day that they greet their family and go home. railings. I feel like I am in the TV show "Monk" using my sleeve to open a door or using a The statff are in tears as they know that their napkin to touch a gas pump handle. Certainly, I perseverance paid off for this patient. carry hand sanitizer and use it frequently. I feel · Sadness -Loss of a sweet coworker with the friendliest smile. · Fear- Am I going to get COVID while caring incomplete now without a mask on. I leave you with a final thought- I saw a sign at a local store that puts it succinctly: for patients? Will I take it home to my elderly I wear my mask in public for three reasons: parents? What about my coworker who just had a positive test? I hope he is one of the lucky ones that has a mild case. 1. Humility: I don't know it I have COVID as it is clear that people spread the disease before they have symptoms. Griet- as caregivers and others in our community suffer the loss of elderly family members. 2. Kindness: I don't know if the person Il am near has a child battling cancer, or cares for their elderly mom. While I might be fine, they · Bravery. Coming to work despite the emotions and fears. Caring for one more day even though might not. it hurts to lose patients and watch families suffer. 3. Community: I want my community to thrive, businesses to stay open, employees to stay Change - Constant new information, new tests and treatments, working through supply healthy. Keeping a lid on COVID helps us all! shortages. AFTER ALL, WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER! Hope- A vaccine is on the horizon. HUMILITY KINDNESS COMMUNITY www.mgh.net MGH healthTBEAT 9 Months into the Pandemic - View from the Frontline By: Angela Kitashoji, Infection Control Coordinator BRAVERY CHANGE GRIEF SADNESS TRIUMPH FEAR PRAYER TEAMWORK PERSEVERANCE It's hard to describe our COVID experience at Marion General Hospital in 150 words or less, Prayer- the opportunity to pray with a patient or coworker in a time of health crisis. but let's take a walk around the hospital in · Perseverance and Teamwork- Health care workers get COVID too and are off work during carly December of 2020. You will see: recovery. Caregivers from physician offices come Triumph - a patient goes home after a long stay. First on the Telemetry unit, then on to to the hospital to assist on the weekends. In trying to stay healthy. I find myself being mindful of everything I touch from doorknobs to Critical Care on a ventilator. After a month, comes a Rehab stay. Finally, the wonderftul day that they greet their family and go home. railings. I feel like I am in the TV show "Monk" using my sleeve to open a door or using a The statff are in tears as they know that their napkin to touch a gas pump handle. Certainly, I perseverance paid off for this patient. carry hand sanitizer and use it frequently. I feel · Sadness -Loss of a sweet coworker with the friendliest smile. · Fear- Am I going to get COVID while caring incomplete now without a mask on. I leave you with a final thought- I saw a sign at a local store that puts it succinctly: for patients? Will I take it home to my elderly I wear my mask in public for three reasons: parents? What about my coworker who just had a positive test? I hope he is one of the lucky ones that has a mild case. 1. Humility: I don't know it I have COVID as it is clear that people spread the disease before they have symptoms. Griet- as caregivers and others in our community suffer the loss of elderly family members. 2. Kindness: I don't know if the person Il am near has a child battling cancer, or cares for their elderly mom. While I might be fine, they · Bravery. Coming to work despite the emotions and fears. Caring for one more day even though might not. it hurts to lose patients and watch families suffer. 3. Community: I want my community to thrive, businesses to stay open, employees to stay Change - Constant new information, new tests and treatments, working through supply healthy. Keeping a lid on COVID helps us all! shortages. AFTER ALL, WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER! Hope- A vaccine is on the horizon. HUMILITY KINDNESS COMMUNITY www.mgh.net MGH healthTBEAT