Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Fall 2020

MilitaryMedical Task Force supports COVID-19 care Members of Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force 627 provided sup- port at several hospitals in San Antonio during the summer. Ten of the soldiers lent their skills to support Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan’s fight against COVID-19. Soldiers assigned to San Antonio were part of a larger contingent of medical staff from the 627th Hospital Center in Fort Carson, Colorado, who are serving at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state officials from Texas and California. The soldiers bring with them various medical specialties. “Our soldiers train daily to maintain clinical skills, so we can save and sustain lives wherever and whenever the nation calls,” stated U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jason Hughes, a commander of the UAMTF 627, in a statement released by U.S. Army North Public Affairs office. U.S. Army North is overseeing the military operation. “We’re proud to be here to support FEMA and Texas, and will work side by side with hospital workers to help communities as long as we are needed.” The UAMTF 627 also includes soldiers from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Environmental Services plays critical role in COVID-19 care Every hour of every day, an Environmental Services (EVS) healthcare hero diligently works to make Methodist Hospital a safe place, free from germs, bacteria and infection. During these unprecedented times of long shifts and spikes in COVID-19 cases, EVS plays a critical role in the first line of defense in creating a clean space so patients and staff feel com- fortable and safe. While doctors and nurses have received much of the praise over the last several months, EVS teammembers are truly the unsung heroes in the battle to overcoming the pandemic. An EVS team member manages several responsibilities on any given shift, focusing on hospital standard disinfection and sanitation. Cleaning patient rooms is one of the many and most important responsibilities EVS has. Everyday patients thoroughly get their rooms disinfected, especially in high-touch areas such as doorknobs, light switches, bed handrails, remotes and call buttons. In order to meet the demands of admitting and discharging patients daily, EVS team members must quickly and effectively conduct discharge cleanings, or cleanings that keep rooms available for new patients. The goal is to flip a discharged patient’s room within one hour to allow minimal time between new admissions. While medical team technicians help maintain clinical spaces, EVS undergoes terminal cleaning in surgical areas each night. This involves removing all objects in the room, cleaning lighting and air duct surfaces in the ceiling, and cleaning everything downward to the floor to ensure a sterile environment for the next operation. All items removed from the room are disinfected and sanitized thoroughly before brought back in. In addition to maintaining cleanliness and infection control measures, EVS is responsible for disposing of trash in all areas, including biohazard- ous waste. Staff also regularly attends to all public areas throughout the hospital, disinfecting surfaces and cleaning, buffering, and shining floors. “Most jobs have a slow day. There aren’t slow days in housekeeping,” commented Richard Burnette, Environmental Services Executive Director at Methodist Hospital. “I’m very happy with everything my team does. I know what they go through and how hard they work, especially during the times we’re facing.” The Methodist Hospital Environmental Services team is comprised of seven leaders and nearly 140 team members. What about COVID-19? What are the similarities and differences between the flu and COVID-19? Both the flu and COVID-19 are contagious respiratory illnesses, with some similarities in symptoms and how they are transmitted. They do, however, have some key differences between them as well. Though we learn more about this new virus every day, there are still a lot of unknowns about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it. Similarly, there can be varying degrees of signs and symptoms in individuals who have contracted either of these viruses. A per- son may even be asymptomatic, showing no signs at all. Common symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 include: ● Fever or feeling feverish/chills ● Cough ● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing ● Fatigue/feeling tired ● Sore throat ● Runny or stuffy nose ● Muscle pain or body aches ● Headache ● Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea (this is more com- mon in children than adults) Signs and symptoms that are unique to COVID-19 may include change in or loss of taste or smell. An individual could start showing symptoms as early as one day after being exposed to either the flu or COVID-19; however, some individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 have gone as long as 14 days without showing any symptoms. Generally, flu symptoms will present anywhere from one to four days after exposure. “Maintaining your own health as well as the health of your friends and family is paramount in these times. We have seen individu- als from all age groups and health statuses become infected with COVID-19, and one of the most important things you can do is to help reduce transmission of this disease,” said Dr. McConnell. “Per- forming common tasks such as washing your hands and limiting your social exposure can go a long way in helping defeat COVID-19.” Hospitalizations are another variance between the two viruses. The typical length of stay in a hospital for the flu is five to six days; whereas with COVID-19, it’s an estimated 11 days. According to Metro Health, the hospitalization rate for the flu is 2%, while the COVID-19 rate is 10%. Respiratory infections can quickly evolve into something more serious. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above and are concerned that you may have COVID-19, use the free screening tool on our Coronavirus Resource Hub, SAHealth.com/covid-19, to assess your risk and symptoms. F A L L 2 0 2 0 7 K E E P I N G W E L L