Direct Line from Steve Edwards: 3/11/2022

Mar. 11, 2022

COVID-19 update

We continue to see encouraging trends in our COVID numbers. On Friday morning, we had 39 COVID-positive inpatients, with only 14 requiring isolation. Those numbers are down from a high of 200 at the peak of Omicron. Our symptomatic positivity rate is 3.99%, down from over 46%. We saw a day of testing this week with only 13 new positives, compared with a single-day high of 896 during Omicron.

We are grateful to see reduced disease spread in our community and we encourage everyone to use this time to take care of themselves and be prepared. Now is a great time to schedule any needed health care you may have delayed. For any friends and family who have not been vaccinated and boosted, we continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination – call 269-1300 to make an appointment.

Masks are still key to safety

With the improving COVID-19 trends, we have been able to ease certain restrictive policies, such as patient visitation. However, at this time, we continue to require surgical quality masking in all areas of our facilities.

As health care organizations begin to ease protective measures, we will be slower and more cautious than most, as we are guided by our first value, which is safety.

We have been humbled by this pandemic, and we will approach policy changes with continued caution and humility. Protecting our staff, patients and community continues to be our most urgent priority.

Preparing for DNV survey

Our Regulatory Affairs team is preparing for our next accreditation and certification surveys. A survey for continued ISO 9001 certification is set for Mar. 29 and we expect a survey from DNV-GL in April.

After two years in a pandemic, we know surveyors will be looking closely at infection prevention practices and vaccination policies. Our staff will be ready to work with surveyors and I appreciate all the effort they have put in to ensure that we have successful surveys.

Volunteers return

After our latest policy change, I am glad to report that many of our volunteers have been able to return. After two years, it lifts my spirit greatly to see them back in our facilities. I have gotten to know so many of our volunteers and I am always inspired by their dedication. I couldn’t be more grateful for the service our volunteers provide our patients and our organization.

‘Here Comes the Sun’

On Dec. 3, 2020, we played “Here Comes the Sun” over our intercoms for the first time. We chose the song to mark the moment when a COVID-19 patient is able to leave the hospital and return home. This simple gesture was a way to offer a glimmer of light in a dark time, a reminder for our staff that patients are surviving because of their efforts.

Since then, we have played the song more than 6,000 times, celebrating every COVID-19 patient who leaves our care. Each successful discharge is a celebration for our staff and I know they are relieved to see our COVID numbers declining.

Now, spring is almost upon us and we are seeing more light each day. The sun is shining longer in the Ozarks outdoors, and each day is looking brighter in our hospitals as well.

We will always be prepared, but we are entering an era of renewed hope. For our staff, our community and for all of you, I believe there are many more sunny days coming.

Thank you for all you do,
Steve