The COVID-19 pandemic presents plenty of challenges for sizable health systems. Those range from setting up a testing structure to securing enough supplies for treating hospitalized patients.
But systems such as Sanford Health can lean on staff infectious disease experts and supply chain departments, among many other resources throughout an enterprise of 50,000 employees. It’s a luxury most others don’t have. Sanford Health can make sure all of their hospital and clinic locations, in towns large and small, are ready and responsive.
For small rural independent hospitals, however, coronavirus preparations and treatment can seem far more daunting. Their list of questions needing answers may grow daily.
Recognizing this, Sanford Health offered to set up a recent virtual roundtable discussion for North Dakota health care providers. Two Sanford Health experts helped lead the discussion, in the spirit of sharing experiences and knowledge gained from preparing for and treating COVID-19 patients.
Officials from the North Dakota Department of Health and the North Dakota Hospital Association also helped lead the discussion.
Providing answers
Dr. Douglas Griffin, vice president and chief medical officer for Sanford Fargo, joined Dr. Avish Nagpal, a Sanford Health infectious disease specialist, in describing COVID-19 activity the health system has seen. Using their experiences and their understanding of the latest literature, they helped answer questions that providers had from hospitals throughout the state.
Questions often centered on management of supplies, particularly of medications and equipment. Providers also sought guidance on patient care, testing and patient transfers.
Sanford Health plans to host additional roundtables to continue offering help to independent rural hospitals.
Sanford Health also has set up a new hotline designed to help answer the providers’ COVID-19 questions: (701) 417-1232.
Providers are reminded that for quick answers to clinical patient care needs, they should continue to call Sanford One Call at (877) 647-1225.
The more that health care experts continue to learn and share about COVID-19, the more prepared everyone will be to provide patients with the best care possible.
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Posted In Bemidji, Bismarck, COVID-19, Leadership in Health Care, News, Rural Health
