As the pandemic worked its way into our region, HUP’s clinical staff mobilized to provide necessary care on the front line. And while they battled COVID 19, behind-the-scenes work helped keep day-to-day operations as smooth as possible.
Below are some of their stories.
Better Together
Many HUP and Perelman Center employees worked
together at the Market Street testing site.
As the clinical needs of COVID-19 care increased, volunteers from throughout Penn Medicine reached out to help. Ashley Stankiewicz, MSN, of the Center for Phenomic Science (CHPS), a unit specializing in clinical trials, was one. She joined Elaina Carkhuff, MSN, of Penn Home Infusion Therapy, to visit the home of a patient who normally received infusions at the Perelman Center. The patient’s daughter — a nurse in Virginia — thanked them both on Facebook for helping to keep her father safe.
And when Penn Medicine set up a tent on Market Street to expand its testing capabilities, several staff from HUP and PCAM joined the multidisciplinary team. “I’ve never worked with a more dedicated group,” said Erin Coonelly, RN, of Dermatology Surgery in PCAM. “People from all over the Health System stepped up in a big way.”
Staff reached out across entities as well. Kristine Renshaw and Danielle Heffner, who are part of Pennsylvania Hospital’s Cath/EP teams, supported the HUP Catheterization/Electrophysiology teams while they were on quarantine. “It’s a really great story about leveraging our star power (our PEOPLE!) and ensuring we support our collective Penn Medicine family with patient care when they are in need,” Heffner said.
And some reached out beyond the Health System. Two HUP nurses — both veterans — battled COVID-19 on the front lines of NYC, which was slammed by the pandemic. Taylor Vanderwoude, a nurse on the Founders 5 Heart and Vascular ICU who is a navy reservist, worked 12-hour shifts starting in early April, along with Sengpheth Phengvath, of Perioperative Services. “There’s a steady flow of patients — all COVID positive — but it’s a good team and we’re getting things done,” Taylor said. “We’re staying safe and the patients are getting great care.”
Transitioning to COVID-19 Rooms
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Rich Watson helped transfer the first patient into a COVID unit at HUP.
Rhoads 1 became HUP’s first COVID patient care unit but this transition required more than just moving patients in. The rooms had to be made COVID-19 “safe,” and that’s where the Physical Plant Department came in.
In order to keep COVID-19 from spreading, each patient room had to have a negative pressure air flow, meaning the air can flow into the room but not escape from it. To do this, the Physical Plant team needed to put special duct work into every patient room — and on the roof — to exhaust the air out of the building. In addition, “doors and walls were constructed throughout those areas for air flow issues and to limit access to the space,” said Joe Lupica, the department's Associate Director.
As the need for more COVID units increased, the team performed this transformation over and over throughout the hospital, all the while doing their regular maintenance and repairs. “The crew worked hard knowing what was at stake and they came through,” said Frank Connelly, assistant executive hospital director. “Everyone is going above and beyond here, and their work is recognized and truly appreciated."
Neil Fishman, MD, HUP’s chief medical officer, agreed. “The team have moved mountains and worked miracles to accomplish this feat.”
Keeping Patient Transport Safe
HUP’s Patient Transport team worked tirelessly to safely move COVID positive patients throughout the facility with new guidelines and precautions to prevent contamination of the surrounding environment. Hundreds were eventually transferred safely but the first came on April 1, when patients on the Donner 3 MICU unit were transferred to Rhoads 1.
Leading the effort was Rich Watson, who Peter, Watson “enthusiastically” volunteered to steer each bed along with a team of clinical and support service staff via a secured route to the Rhoads 1 unit. “His focus and expertise were never in doubt as he assisted with the successful transfer of seven critically ill COVID positive patients over a period of approximately five hours,” said Peter Fratini, director of Patient Transport. “His display of professionalism and courage that day is just one of many examples of how the HUP Patient Transport team did their part to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.”
While Transport got the patients safely to their rooms, EVS made sure the COVID rooms were properly disinfected and cleaned. Through education and daily huddles for specialty training, EVS staff helped keep staff and patients protected, said Ariel Desphy-Carter, EVS assistant director, adding that staff not only learned the proper protocol, but also “reinforced the processes put in place with nursing staff on the COVID units.”
Securing Supplies
Outside duct work was needed for the negative pressure rooms for COVID patients.
As the pandemic reached our region, certain patient care supplies — especially personal protective equipment — started dwindling. As March turned into April, distributors could only supply less than half of HUP’s normal order. To make matters even harder, the type of shortages changed. For example, “initially the problem was facemasks, but, then, when facemasks were replenished, hand sanitizer became a problem,” said Bonnie Lang, the department’s administrative secretary.
“We started calling all vendors they could think of — even dental suppliers,” Lang said. “We had to think outside of the box. Who else uses masks? This was not boot camp; we were at war.”
Donations of PPE helped immensely — including hundreds of masks and other supplies from throughout the University and boxes of supplies from the Penn Simulation Center (which Fisher, Lang and others picked up on a Sunday in early April). “I was completely overwhelmed by all of the donations we received,” Lang said. “The generosity that came with this pandemic was heartwarming to see and experience. “
As the supplies continued to arrive — from both vendors and other donations — one thing was evident: The storage area where they normally keep patient care supplies was not nearly big enough. “There was only one place we could think of that was big enough and secure: the cafeteria [which remained closed during the pandemic],” Lang said. Soon, the area was filled with hundreds of boxes of PPE, disinfectant and basic cleaning supplies, and other patient care needs. “The dedication of the staff, working seven days a week, moving PPE many times over until a permanent spot was found in the cafeteria was key to having our process organized,” said Robert Fisher, director of Materials Management.
"Our mantra is that we are saving our people in the hospital one face mask at a time!" Lang said.
Donated Food Fuels the Front Line
Man may not live on food alone but for staff who are working tirelessly to care for patients and stay safe themselves, gifts of goodies delivered to their units are not only a gastric delight but a boost for their mental state as well.
A greatly appreciated Food for Front Line
delivery to the pre-op PACU.
Almost from the time the first COVID19 patient was admitted to HUP, donated meals started pouring in to HUP’s units and the ED. Jessie Reich, MSN, Magnet program director who has overseen food donations to HUP, received close to 10,000 donations: From small sandwich platters to large ones with 100 sandwiches and salads. 100 bags of Easter candy and chocolate bars. Complete meals that staff can take home after a long, tiring day. The list is endless.
Reich said that although some donations target specific areas — like one restaurant providing one meal a week to a specific unit until the pandemic ends — others just wanted to support front line staff. “We try to make sure everyone at HUP gets something.”
While many donations came from restaurants and companies, some came from individuals wanting to help. The brother of Hanna Liss of the ED, who lives in California, had bagel and fruit trays delivered to the ED. And then there was Breana Kaut, who worked as an x-ray tech at HUP until last year when she decided to devote her time to her photography business. Reaching out on Facebook, she started “Food For Front Line” to boost spirits of not only HUP staff, but those at PPMC, PAH and other hospitals in the city. As donations poured in, she kept on ordering as many deliveries as possible.“What they’re doing on the front lines is amazing,” she said. “This is something to show we appreciate it.”