Owensboro Health | Lift | July 2020

4 Owensboro Health • July 2020 In a time of uncertainty and crisis, innovation across our health system has been the key to managing the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping our community safe. New services Finding ways to serve our patients without increasing their risk of exposure to the virus has been our top priority. In March, we began offering virtual visits, allowing patients to see their doctor or urgent care provider without the concern of leaving home. Soon after, we started drive-thru laboratory services at multiple locations, offering patients regular testing while they stayed in their cars. This service is especially important in departments such as oncology and hematology, which see our most vulnerable patients. Traditional clinic visits have also been adapted as we developed new processes to triage patients and adjusted the traditional waiting room experience. New procedures Around the hospital, making sure we conserve personal protective equipment is essential. Our Sterile Processing team developed a way early on to clean N95 masks for reuse, easing the burden of finding them during the shortage. Our Engineering & Maintenance department also found ways to produce face shields out of commonly available materials, and our biomedical engineering department created a device that reduces exposure for the medical team during an intubation of a patient when the risk of viral transmission is elevated. With COVID-19 testing in demand, the Owensboro Health Laboratory created a process to double their inventory of collection kits and provide more testing for our community. Committed to great care And because life doesn’t stop during a pandemic, our maternity services department began offering virtual facility tours and prenatal education for expectant parents. This service allows them to become familiar with the facility and ask any questions they might have as they welcome a new baby during this unprecedented time. These innovations required teamwork from many departments, and we are proud of their desire to provide the best care possible for our community. We’re proud to be innovators ABOVE: The Owensboro Health Laboratory found a way to provide more COVID-19 test kits for our community. LEFT: Drive-thru laboratory service became an option at many locations. BELOW: Biomedical team members Adam Stangle, Mike Welch, Dan Clark and Kyle Daily worked to create intubation halos to keep the team safe during intubation procedures. Baby on the way? Owensboro Health maternity services can help you prepare — safely. Visit OwensboroHealth.org/ Pregnancy