Columbus CEO: Healthcare Workers Remain Strong Against COVID-19

With close to 90 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Ohio as of March 18, OhioHealth is taking the necessary measures to stay on the front line of this growing pandemic, including visitor restrictions, hourly bed planning and equipment and containment measures.

OhioHealth is also continuing to explore new options, like expanding bed capacity by converting private rooms into two-occupancy ones. For patients who need not only a private room but sterile air, we are also considering creating a negative-air-pressure unit with portable systems.

For now, resources remain the top priority.

“Resources are of greatest concern to me right now,” Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, OhioHealth senior vice president and chief medical officer, told Columbus CEO reporter Laurie Allen. “Our equipment and supplies are not inexhaustible. They require replenishment, so we’re thinking about how to make the best use of them. We’re examining all ideas with input from public health officials.”

OhioHealth is also working to alleviate stress and burnout for its associates through staffing options and cross-training.

“There is care and concern, but not that fear,” he said. “I’m amazed at the people who’ve put aside their own work, including this past weekend, to give of their energy and creativity to prepare for the weeks to come. We don’t stand alone. I think we need to feel a little more confident in ourselves. Anxiety is our enemy.”

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