Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Summer 2020

HOPE AND HYGIENE Inspiring art goes viral during the COVID-19 pandemic SEE PAGE 3 Unprecedented times, unprecedented care “With the arrival of COVID-19, we are living in challenging times, and our response through our Methodist Healthcare hospitals is meeting the challenge. In this issue of Keeping Well , we want to give our readers an inside look at what we have done to successfully respond to COVID-19. “We have been involved since day one, when we were selected to care for the first evacuee brought to Joint Base San Antonio from Wuhan, China. It has been a privilege to witness our mission to serve humanity to honor God on full display in all our hospitals. In addition, the community support we have received has been inspiring. “Thank you for trusting us with your healthcare. At our hospitals, the health and safety of our patients, colleagues and communities is our first priority. With each dynamic shift of the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapt accordingly, further strengthening our commitment to our mission and to the care and improvement of human life.” Emergencies don’t wait Methodist Healthcare implements precautions for your safety AT METHODIST HEALTHCARE, we’re committed to helping protect the health and safety of the communities we serve. While we remain diligent in the fight against COVID-19, we know that people are facing other critical medical issues as well. We also know that people are avoiding potentially lifesaving care. Researchers at health insurance company Cigna analyzed hospital admissions and found that many people with acute and emergency medical conditions are not going to the hospital. Nationally between February and March, the hospitalization rate related to atrial fibrillation decreased by 35%. The rate related to mini strokes declined by 31% in the same time frame. Double-digit declines were recorded in the hospitalization rates for epileptic seizures, gastrointestinal bleeding, heart attacks and appendicitis. We have seen indications of these national trends in our local hospitals. This is dangerous for area residents. Delaying or avoiding critical medical care for medical emergencies, such as heart attacks, strokes or serious injuries, can result in serious health complications and even death. Many patients and their family members may be understandably anxious about visiting healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to assure our community that Methodist Healthcare has taken a number of precautions and put into place numerous new protections to help ensure that our hospitals continue to be the safest places possible to receive care. We have implemented health and safety standards over and above the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Methodist Healthcare is dedicated to providing area residents with outstanding care and encourages all residents to seek care promptly if they believe they or a loved one may be experiencing a medical emergency. Methodist Hospital |Texsan caredfor thecity’s first COVID-19 patient SAN ANTONIO was one of the first cities to receive American evacuees from Wuhan, China, as part of the U.S. government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. On Feb. 7, a group of passengers arrived at Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland for quarantine. As part of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) emergency response plan with the City of San Antonio and Metro Health, Methodist Hospital | Texsan was selected as the facility to take the first evacuee who showed signs of illness. On Feb. 11, all the plans and preparations were put into action. EMS was called to transport a woman under quarantine to Methodist Hospital | Texsan for care. The charge nurse in the Emergency Department that night was Stephen Gudowski, R.N., who immediately stepped up to be the primary caregiver for the patient. —Continued on page 5 Allen Harrison President and CEO, Methodist Healthcare Stephen Gudowski, R.N., at Methodist Hospital | Texsan, brought experience in infectious disease processes and compassion to the team that cared for the city’s first COVID-19 patient. ® M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H C A R E — S A N A N T O N I O ● S U M M E R 2 0 2 0