Jefferson COVID Stories
Can you share your interprofessional teamwork experiences over the past few months?
Featured Response
Scheduling Coordinator on Working from Home
Judy (second from right) with her family
I have been working from home since the beginning. At first, it was a major challenge: connecting to my work computer, trying to do my job on a laptop, trying to organize the papers I brought home so I could do my job. As I moved from our dining room table to my small office and my larger personal computer, it was much easier to complete my tasks. I learned how to adjust every day. My colleagues and I were also getting better at figuring out the multitude of schedule changes and issues they caused. As I got more comfortable working at home, it gave me more time to reflect on my co-workers and what they are going through. I kind of feel a little guilty I am not there to share the experience with them, although I know I need to be home for my own health. I can't wait to get back to my work family. I have never been so proud to work at Jefferson.
– Judy Kramer, Scheduling Coordinator, Department of Family and Community Medicine
I realized going onto these units to support staff was critical as they were enduring so much in a 12 hour shift. It was challenging to wear 2 masks and a face shield, the fears of getting or spreading COVID, so many unfortunate patient deaths. My observation is the staff needed support and check-ins for their own mental health. A lot of them found it comforting to have another nurse companion for moral support.
– Staff RN, CAPU
Featured Response
Blood Bank Technologist on Working Together
Our department consists of a little over 20 Medical Laboratory Technologists/Receiving Tech's Full- time, part-time and per diem specialized to work in the Blood Bank. We normally work in three shifts that all overlap. A couple of our Technologists, along with the Blood Bank Supervisor, and The Medical Director devised a plan to separate our Tech's into 4 groups. We would work with the same group of Tech's every shift, and work longer hours but less days. Our main goal was to decrease chances of exposure by working less days and limit the exposure with the employees from the entire lab but rather just be exposed to the same Tech's every time we worked. It was challenging for us to all adjust our lives and our schedules with little to no warning, but everyone was on board. We literally have one group come in the front door, while the other group goes out the back. This amazing group of Techs have pulled together to make this work so we could continue to provide quality laboratory work. We call ourselves Group A, B, C and D. Throughout the past two months we have left inspirational quotes, hilarious memes, food treats, decorated mail boxes, posted pictures of each group member either by photo, avatar or drawings, and also left games for one another. I am an employee of 32 years in the Blood Bank and I can say that I have never witnessed this level of teamwork and camaraderie. I miss the other half of my night shift crew and look forward to returning to normal schedules hopefully soon. I am very proud to be working in the Blood Bank and to be a Jefferson employee during these unprecedented times.
-Kelly Micucci, Senior Medical Technologist, Blood Bank Transfusion Unit
The process of debriefing and learning from each COVID-positive delivery allows us to critique our actions. What did we do well? What can we improve? No two births are ever the same. We must have the knowledge and preparedness to dynamically adjust in every situation.
-RN, Maternity, Washington Township, NJ
Featured Response
Jefferson Doctoral student on Midwifery during a pandemic
I’ve been a practicing midwife for nine years at a freestanding birth center in Pittsburgh. I decided to pursue my doctorate in midwifery to enhance my leadership skills. Little did I know, I would be using all the midwifery leadership skills I’ve gained during a pandemic. I’m currently the acting clinical director of our birth center, which has changed quite a bit over the last month or so. We quickly moved to telehealth to keep our clients safely socially distancing and rapidly sourced appropriate personal protective equipment to keep our staff and clients safe from potential illness. We also have made difficult decisions about support people in visits and during labor, while constantly ensuring we’re valuing individuals’ safety, autonomy and personal needs during this crucial life process. I’m grateful for the profession of midwifery, which has shown strength and leadership during this global crisis.
– Emily McGahey, PhD Student
A SICU nurse gowned up and went into a room per the family's request so they could FaceTime them and sing to the Dad. It was the best thing she could have done. Another nurse held the mothers hand as she was dying while the daughter was on FaceTime and she wasn’t able to hug or kiss or touch her for one last time.
– Housekeeper, Environmental Services
Featured Response
Pulmonary Medicine CMA on Working Together
I work with the most professional team I could ever ask for. We, together, have come up with ideas to make this easy to work at home or at the office. It is hard work and we enjoy it.
– Sylvia Holley, NRCMA, Pulmonary Medicine
On the frontlines in the Emergency Department at Jefferson Cherry Hill NJ we sadly cared for many area nursing home patients afflicted by COVID -19 . The most challenging aspect from an emotional point of view was speaking with families about their loved ones and making difficult end of life care decisions with them. Frequently these patients had been in quarantine away from visitors and family members at their Nursing Homes and loved ones had not been able to see them for weeks due to the quarantine. Additionally, family was often restricted from coming to the hospital because of the pandemic. It was heart breaking for us as ED physicians and nurses who are trained to save lives at all costs to reassess care for those who were very ill with COVID-19. Sometimes this required dealing with doing less for the very ill and making them comfortable...Sometimes that meant nurses and doctors being the ones comforting patients and holding their hands when families could not.
– Emergency Medicine Physician, Jefferson Cherry Hill
COVID has given us a golden opportunity to appreciate the division of labor for a common cause. Every person has unique talents they can share, both personally and professionally. Those in the office appreciate those who are having to work from home. Our clinicians research colleagues are keeping us up to date with the latest in epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. Our registrars, MA’s and nurses have adapted to new workflows to support in person and telehealth visits, while making sure that forms and documentation still get to where they are needed. Our hospital based teams work with diligence and courage to bring healing, care and comfort to anxious patients and families. Everyone contributes what they can to the whole. We are connected in mission, purpose, holding each other’s fears while celebrating what we do best. Never been prouder to be a member of this team.
– Family Doctor and Community Health Advocate, Department of Family and Community Medicine
My biggest KUDOS to the Jefferson Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (JCIPE) staff and interprofessional team faculty (medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy) who oversee, in particular, the Health Mentor Program, Hotspotting and TeamSAFE and who successfully created ways to deliver these programs and bring our student teams together online. For many of the faculty, this was in tandem with what they were working to develop within their own respective disciplines/colleges/programs. Accomplishing this, on the part of the staff and faculty, required swift teamwork - and exceptional communication. On the part of the students, we observed them help each other not only with the original stated assignments, but with the technology challenges, etc. that arose during this transition. It was concluded that team skills COULD be developed virtually and observed. A WIN in my book!
– Administrator, Jefferson Center for Interprofessional Education
I am so grateful to be involved with two amazing departments who have shown incredible compassion toward each other, creative problem solving, and regular communication. Nothing but WINS so far!
– Behavioral Health Consultant, Jefferson Geriatrics & Women’s Primary Care
Besides the Better Together Fund application form and app above, DICE's Clinical and Platforms Software Development teams have chipped in on many other efforts: we built an app to help JOHN track employees exposed to COVID-19, and get them back to work safely; we're continuously updating dashboards and alerts to better monitor ICU, ED and Inpatient capacity and detect surges; we enabled schedulers to receive COVID-19 testing requests that were first screened by a chatbot; we made it easier for our fellow employees to get Zoom accounts; we helped JNE ED staff become more aware of which rooms had COVID-19 patients; we helped the Telehealth team handle the massive increase in volume; and more! It's been a privilege to be able to help in so many different ways.
– Software Development Manager, DICE
I work as an administrator in the Infectious Disease Office. The office is open and working with patients. Though they try to make appointments through telehealth, they are still seeing patients for those who don't have access to telehealth or have other reasons to be seen in person. I wanted to share my observation about the resolution of the staff; their resilience and most importantly, the way so many of them treat each other like family. Through these awful times, they have shared wanting to go to work, wanting to be of assistance to the community and really leaning on each other. The virus has absolutely impacted people in the office in a number of ways and now they add to that concerns about bringing the virus home to their loved ones; so they have found ways to manage those fears and keep going. It's challenging to see this and know that we are limited in terms of the type of support we can provide; but still convey the great pride in the work that is being done in this community.
-Grants Administration
I have seen many of my coworkers step up to help out where needed. Some have floated to help the nurses taking care of COVID patients while others support our team by handing out PPE and helping us to decompress after a stressful day. I am continually inspired by the displays of teamwork that I see every day.
– RN, GI infusion
We have all learned how vital each player of the team is. Seeing staff members from all over the enterprise come together to work in different or new areas to support our needs as an enterprise. Having other units for example radiology brought a thank you basket for the ICU filled with snacks. We now have team nursing in several areas to make sure we care for all of our patients appropriately. The teamwork and emotional support all of these areas have offered each other is overwhelming.
– Nurse Manager, Critical Care ICU/PCU
I think the best way I can put this is - TEAMWORK!!! We have all come together as a team to get things done. PERIOD!!! We have each other's back and we never let a team member fall behind!!! It's not an option. If we are swamped, and overwhelmed, then we are all swamped and overwhelmed TOGETHER!!!
– RN, Emergency Department
Video submitted by Kimberly Tha, ICU/PCU nurse manager at Abington-Lansdale hospital.