[Originally ran in Sept. 21, 2020 RESO Division News & Updates.]
The past few weeks have been challenging for our Oregon Region. In a short period, violent windstorms ignited fires across the state, generating mass destruction and need for immediate evacuations. The teams responded to care for our patients, even though many were dealing with their own needs to evacuate their homes. Although, Oregon experiences wildfires each year, the speed and number of fires so close to homes and our medical centers was unprecedented. Kerrie Bartel-Christensen, executive director – regional real estate operations takes time to reflect upon the dedication, creativity, teamwork, and resilience demonstrated by the Oregon team.
The call came to evacuate the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday
night. The child center at Providence Portland Medical Center had a mothballed unit that
required the team to get it online within a few hours. Facilities, construction, and
environmental services (EVS) collaborated with regional leadership to clean it out, move in
beds, and bring it online. The residents from Benedictine moved in just four hours
later. EVS also made rooms available at the nearby guest-housing site for the staff that
would be traveling with the patients.
Providence Medford Medical Center – Our RESO team stood as a beacon of hope for a
community ablaze around them. Our ministry was the only emergency department open
and taking patients. The RESO team kept this ministry going while no doubt having to
judge the safety of their own families and possible evacuation. Once the fires subsided, the
team immediately shifted into recovery. Leadership did an amazing job of being in contact
with their teams to make sure they were okay and to close the gap on any personal care
needs. Moreover, if that was not enough, the team had to arrange for potable water to
provide safe water for drinking. The facilities team continued to evaluate air quality and
were constantly adjusting intakes and air scrubbers to make sure the environment was
comfortable.
Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City was required to evacuate, yet still had to
keep the facility operational for safety reasons. The team stayed on site even though many
had their own homes under siege. The campus welcomed the evacuees and allowed for
RVs and tents. The caregivers brought in food for their teams and the few remaining
patients. The RESO team had a great experience with the National Guard who were on
site and in the community to offer support. Finally, when the medical center shifted back to
a level one, the team was able to shift back into operations and welcomed back patients
and staff.
Providence Milwaukie Hospital – The previous surge planning served invaluable as this site
was used for evacuated patients. This site went from a relatively calm environment to a full
house with a moment’s notice; never once missing a beat. The team went from relative
calm to a full house and did not miss a beat. Many of them were also dealing with the
personal impact to homes and juggling air quality issues.
Providence Newberg Hospital – The wildfires were within a few miles of this site and given
the close proximity to caregivers’ homes, the team operated grossly understaffed. The
team also spun up the hospital to handle the shifted capacity from Willamette Falls. The air
quality at this location was at a dangerous level and the team kept the level within a
comfortable zone for patients and caregivers.
- Air quality was a constant concern for many of our medical centers. This quickly became a
non-stop issue for teams to manage, specifically at Providence Portland Medical Center,
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, and
Providence Seaside Hospital. Once the fires settle, it might be good to develop a regional
plan for air scrubbers. - Safety Managers – This team shifted from PPE committees, to socially distanced
conference rooms, to testing CO in EVERY hospital (every day.) This team of caregivers
are the data and science that allows our patients and caregivers to feel safe. In addition to
juggling many hats, they stepped up to take care of a sewage flood over the weekend. - Environmental Services caregivers across the state – What doesn’t fall to this team of
caregivers? This team made sleeping arrangements for staff increased cleaning for COVID
due to wildfire smoke, and keeping all the room turns going in a pandemic, despite being
short staffed due to teammates needing to evacuate their homes. - CBRE – How many air scrubbers did the CBRE team deliver to the ambulatory environment
over the weekend, at least 50? This all happened while managing communications
regarding air quality and safety, moving drive up testing (not just once, but three times), and
dealing with constant calls and questions. The CBRE team became the local air scrubber
dealers. - Our leadership team of regional directors – Garth Didlick, Tina Landeros, Weston York, as
well as Susan Gillespie, executive director – operations, remained as unwavering and loyal
leaders who did not hesitate to push to do the right thing (as an example – drive several
hours to deliver air scrubbers.) The volume of work thrown at this leadership team to sort,
solve, and solution can be daunting. What is even more impressive is how they support
each other and their teams; and never once did this group of leaders fail to remain upbeat.
Great work, Oregon RESO team!