Coronavirus Update and Health System Preparations - 4/2

Testing and Confirmed Cases
To protect patient privacy, we have established a minimum threshold of five for reporting numbers of inpatients with laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19.

DCH internal counts as of noon on 4/2/20:

• Seven inpatients are being treated for COVID-19.

• Five or fewer inpatients who are positive for COVID-19 are being treated in the ICU.

• Five or fewer inpatients who are positive for COVID-19 are on ventilators.

• 26 (cumulative) have tested positive for COVID-19 including individuals from the ED, triage tent and inpatient. These individuals are not necessarily in the hospital.

• 759 (cumulative) have tested negative at DCH sites.

Screening Weekend Hours
DCH’s remote screening site just west of its Regional Medical Center will be open this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. – Noon and Sunday from 2 – 5 p.m.

Now Accepting Masks Assembled at Home from Surgical Fabric
Hospitals use a special fabric to wrap surgical instrument trays before they go through gas sterilization or an autoclave. This fabric can be sterilized multiple times, and its microbial barrier properties are well tested. The University of Florida Health piloted making masks out of the material with good results.

DCH Health System has received a shipment of the fabric and is looking for volunteers to sew masks from it. Volunteers will be provided the fabric (each sheet can make up to 10 masks), metal for the nose adjustment and a pattern. Finished masks will be given to health care providers.

If you are able to help, please call June Murray at 205-759-7996. Thank you!

#FeedingtheFrontline
Yesterday we shared that The DCH Foundation’s COVID-19 Fund launched a program called “Feeding the Frontlines” to match people who want to help the DCH Health System and local restaurants at the same time. We are excited to announce an expansion of the program.

The DCH Foundation is expanding the Feeding the Frontlines program to also coordinate meals for first responders and other frontline industries such as police, fire, nursing home and EMS workers. With a donor contribution of $250 for a single department meal or $1,500 for a week of meals for a department, the Foundation staff will connect with a local restaurant, purchase the food and work with either DCH’s Volunteer Services Department or a first responder point of contact to arrange for the meal to be delivered. Those providing the contribution simply specify where they would like the meal to go.

We are especially thankful to Randy and Julie Rhodes along with Harvest Select for a generous gift to our Covid-19 Fund and the inspiration for this expansion.

Contact Brandt LaPish at Elizabeth.lapish@dchsystem.com if you are interested in participating.

#strongertogether
You can show your support for DCH by adding the DCH #strongertogether frame to your Facebook profile photo. Here is how it works:

• From mobile, click on your picture and select “Add Frame.” Type “DCH stronger together” in the search box and choose the frame.

• From desktop, hover over your profile picture and select “Update.” In the pop-up window, select “Add Frame” then type “DCH stronger together” in the search box and choose the frame.