Teamwork is the real pandemic story at CCH
2022-02-19
At the peak of this latest wave of COVID-19, many of our
staff or their families became sick, and with required isolation periods, we
were challenged to consider how we need to continue to meet the needs of our
patients.
This is when our CCH Team stepped up and demonstrated their
commitment to our patients, providing safe and exceptional care, and
exemplified our mission and values. To me, that is the real story of this
pandemic at CCH.
Omicron has highlighted how much can be accomplished by
individuals working as a team. Some staff were asked to work in different roles
and functions, provide support in different areas, and provide patient care in
whatever capacity they could given their knowledge, skill and judgement. Many
worked extra hours to help fill in the gaps.
Although some days were harder than others, for Tasha Wells,
Clinical Nursing Educator, the challenges presented by this latest wave of
COVID-19 produced several positive takeaways.
“It absolutely created an awareness of what each member
contributes to the team and how important each role is, as well as a deep
appreciation for each other. It brought me great pride to see us come together to
help each other through the tough times, because ultimately the patients depend
on it.”
A
large portion of patients were being cared for on the Medicine Unit throughout
this latest wave. Cassidy O’Neil is a Registered Nurse who works on Medicine.
“Despite
the pressures during this latest wave, we were always there for one another no
matter the circumstances. When we noticed a co-worker was struggling to make it
through a shift, we’d often crack jokes to make them smile, make sure they were
eating and drinking properly, maybe buy them a coffee and of course helped them
on the floor, ensuring our patients received the best care,” says Cassidy.
Linda Gravel is our Vice-President of Patient Services and
Chief Nursing Officer. Over the past several months, Linda has been doing
walkthroughs of various units to speak with staff and observe their
perseverance first-hand.
“I have been so impressed by the strong sentiments staff
have shared around the importance of teamwork and collaboration. One theme I
have heard repeatedly is that empathy is at the core of all they do; they’re
caring with their hearts, so to speak,” says Linda. “We are brought together by
our profession, but more importantly I believe through our passion for caring,
our sense of teamwork and by wanting to see excellent outcomes for patients.”
For many healthcare workers, it’s not just a career, but
it’s also a calling – the sense of needing and wanting to help people, even
when the times get tough.
“The patient comes first. This can mean working late when
someone is sick, working nights instead of getting together with friends, or
missing Christmas morning with your family. When your actions directly affect a
person’s life, commitment is essential every day,” expressed Katie Lalonde, a
Respiratory Therapist at CCH.
Our CCH Team has come out of this latest wave stronger than
ever and united towards the common goal of exceptional patient outcomes.
We hope the worst of the Omicron variant is behind us and we
look forward to new opportunities and challenges in 2022.