Dr. Bob Joyner, Director of TidalHealth’s Richard A. Henson Research Institute, said he’s proud of TidalHealth’s efforts to protect the community and its employees while caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
“It’s important to know that TidalHealth is unique,” he said. “There isn’t a magic switch — it will take time and diligence to return to life as we knew it — but we take the job of caring for our community very seriously, and we’re doing a great job.”
In the midst of the pandemic, innovation continues at TidalHealth to keep patients safe. At TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, a triage tent was erected outside to safely care for Emergency Department patients and the Layfield Tower was transitioned to negative pressure to provide a safe care area for COVID-19 positive patients.
TidalHealth also applied for and received an emergency Certificate of Need allowing for the construction of a new 44-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU), increasing capacity to nearly 100 beds for the sickest patients.
In TidalHealth’s primary and specialty care offices, physicians continue to offer telehealth appointments so patients can seek medical advice and treatment without leaving home.
“What we have learned through this pandemic is that we truly are better together,” said Kathryn Fiddler, DNP, MBA, RN, Vice President of Population Health.