Maintaining preparedness during Phased opening

DAYTON–Columbia County Health System (CCHS) continues to maintain regular trainings for staff for COVID-19, and has two isolation rooms ready in case of need. The clinics continue to require that patients ring for entrance and be screened. But, CEO Shane McGuire said, there is cause to “celebrate that we are not in imminent closure” due to the various aid received by CCHS.

“The Medicare prepayment was the fastest thing that they could do because there were already provisions put in place to allow for that,” McGuire said. “Terms of that money were not great. They knew it would create the bridge we needed to allow the legislators to figure out how they were going to support this COVID response nationally. We are not done pitching through every channel that we can...Grant money will only stretch out to the middle of November, that’s if nothing changes, the census doesn’t improve, the volumes don’t improve.”

As Columbia County advances through the phased re-opening plan for easing restrictions laid out by Governor Inslee, CCHS has increased promotion of their services to the public and are encouraging those with ongoing health and other needs to seek care and not to wait. The administration and staff are concerned that people have not been coming in these past months, who have chronic health issues and other health issues.

Chief of Staff Kyle Terry reported that as soon as they began their promotion, the census was up and they were almost full in the hospital. This will produce an increase in revenue over the previous two months of the Stay at Home Order, when CCHS was preparing for a possible surge by keeping spaces open which meant patients were not coming in or being admitted.

McGuire said that the administration is “cautiously optimistic” when looking ahead towards the future.

CCHS celebrated Appreciation Week and honored staff. McGuire expressed gratitude for the continued efforts made during this difficult time by the Human Resources department, dietary staff, Kelli Martin-Fluharty, and Jorie Freeman. “There were events everyday facilitated by this team that stretched across all shifts and even our remote workers, he said. “We also had an outpouring of support from our community with cards written by community members to each of the departments expressing appreciation for everything this team does.”

Heroic efforts have been made by staff to those in the Booker Rest Home during these months of isolation from visitors. McGuire said that, “People are fundamentally trapped in the nursing homes.” Staff have been committed to helping residents keep spirits up by offering hall bingo, theme days such as Hero Day and 80s Fitness Day, as well as preforming themed dances such country western, Latin and a ’50s sock hop.