Friday, May 1, 2020

As anticipated, the surge has arrived in our community and this week Anna Jaques hit our highest daily census of COVID-19 patients to date, with as many as 15 confirmed positive patients and another 10-15 patients under investigation in our care.

Our staff continues to do an outstanding job as the acuity and volume of patients increases. It has also been uplifting to hear from patients who have recovered, like this patient who shared a handwritten note upon returning home after being admitted for COVID-19:

Though we are hitting a peak, we continue to monitor activity across the Commonwealth and take into account what experts are predicting about the trajectory of this virus. It appears we are on the verge of reaching the point of plateau. With that comes hope that we will soon turn to the next chapter of this pandemic.

Our focus now is two-fold: staying laser focused and diligent on emergency measures while thoughtfully preparing for the next phase. This week as Governor Baker extended the essential services emergency order to May 18th, he launched a Reopening Advisory Board charged with providing strategies for safely reopening the economy. We will take a similar preparedness approach in partnership with Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) to create a system-wide plan, framework and clinical guidance for reopening our hospital.

BILH and Anna Jaques are developing a “Back to Business Plan” (or B2BP) which is expected to be a staged and complex process. The safety and protection of our patients, staff, physicians and community will be at the center of every decision we make.

Locally, we will establish interdisciplinary workgroups led by operating room staff, nursing and clinical leadership, and physicians to evaluate how to safely re-open ancillary services, the Ambulatory Procedure Room/endoscopy suite, and the operating room, and tackle the distinct challenges associated with each area.

You will hear much more about this in the days and weeks to come. In the meantime, we must stay diligent both at work and at home. We are all growing fatigued of the protocols, personal distancing, and infection control measures but they are keeping us safe and helping us combat COVID-19.

I know you are digging deep to get through these challenging times so that we stand able to care for our patients. Know that your resilience and dedication are deeply appreciated here and by our patients, their families, and the communities we serve.

Mark Goldstein President

“I wanted to write to say THANK YOU for your love, caring and comfort during my stay while COVID-positive. While I cannot remember all of the names, and never saw your (uncovered) faces, the look in your eyes said it all. I know you risk your own safety every day and helping me was not easy. I just cannot say ‘thank you’ enough. You were all amazing. I am still home recovering but doing much better thanks to you all. I was scared when I was admitted and you all made me feel more at ease. I hope to see the faces with the ‘eyes’ someday and thank you personally.”

A local artist gifted a painting to the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Inpatient Unit, sharing: “Thank you for doing such an incredible job during such a stressful time. We are grateful for you always but

especially now. Here is a painting that I hope reminds you of how super strong you all are!”

Michael Young enjoys a meal through Olympic Roofing of Topsfield’s #FeedtheHeroes project

which has provided 1,000 meals to frontline professionals across the North Shore.

Members of the hardworking Food Services teamwho continue to support patients and employees.

The Pharmacy team who continues to provide critical medication to our patients and support our BILH family.

“Today me will live in the moment unless it’s unpleasant in which case me will eat a cookie” – Cookie Monster. David LaFlamme, Chairman of the AJH Board of Trustees, and his wife, Ginny, provided cookies this week. (Disguised: Dorene Dupuis & Mark Goldstein).