Guadalupe Regional Medical Center | Health Currents | Fall 2020

HEALTH CURRENTS is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of GUADALUPE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, 1215 E. Court St., Seguin, TX 78155, 800.506.6394 or 830.379.2411. Website: grmedcenter.com. Robert G. Haynes, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer Penny Wallace, FACHE, Chief Financial Officer Daphne Blake, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer Sheri Williams, RN, MSN, Chief Operating Officer Fay Bennett, VP of Employee Services Kody Gann, VP of Finance Lauren Carter, VP of Physician Services Jennifer Valdez, VP of Revenue Cycle Elaine Bennett, CEO of Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation Deana Henk, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer, Guadalupe Health Network Rhonda Unruh, MHA, RN, VP of Quality Tasha Montez, PhD, MA, CCC, SLP, CEO of Guadalupe Regional Medical Group James Lee, MD, GRMC Governing Board Chairman Michelle Rumbaut, GRMC Project Administrator Health Currents Editor: Chelsea Maldonado, Director of Marketing Information in HEALTH CURRENTS comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2020 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. I have been in the healthcare business, either at the bedside as a respiratory therapist or as a hospital leader, for more than 40 years. Never have I experienced such a disruptive, historic event as this pandemic. Never would I have imagined that we would be converting recovery bays into ICUs overnight. Regardless of the extent of the challenge, my confidence in our GRMC team never wavered. Over the years we have developed a strong culture of quality and safety, of transparent communication, of trust and relationships. We have recruited and retained outstanding clinicians and passionate support staff. We have been blessed with a phenomenal medical staff who stepped up to provide clinical expertise and strategy during this difficult period. I could not wish for a more competent and dedicated senior team. All of these factors created the foundation for our successful COVID-19 response. As the storm hit our hospital, I reiterated several basic tenets. First, we must protect our staff by having appropriate, sufficient and readily available personal protective equipment. We must be able to quickly perform tests to identify and trace any staff who are carriers of the virus. We must bring in additional traveler nurses and cardiopulmonary therapists. We must set up systems to allow staff who can work from home to do so. I knew that this crisis could challenge relationships and create fear. To combat those negatives, we must ensure honest, accurate and constant communication. We must educate those who are understandably nervous so that they are well-prepared and confident about treating patients. I was aware that the loss of elective surgeries would negatively affect our finances, and that we might be stretched thin with less income and more expenses. However, the Governing Board and I agreed that our priorities must be staff and patients, and that the finances would be addressed in time. We rearranged work schedules and assignments, and we never furloughed a single staff member. I have always been proud of the care provided at GRMC; I have never been prouder of the staff with whom I am privileged to work. Robert G. Haynes, FACHE, CEO Courage and confidence