Local Healthcare Coalition Requests PPE Reserves
March 19, 2020
Community Healthcare Colleagues,
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating unprecedented demands on the healthcare community. Throughout the world, protecting healthcare providers during care delivery is foundational. Without healthy physicians, nurses and essential personnel, we will be unable to care for the community in a sustainable way.
We are asking you to immediately review and consider cancelling health care services, procedures and surgeries that, if delayed, are not anticipated to cause harm to the patient within the next three months. We believe it is necessary to keep the system from being overwhelmed and to preserve personal protective equipment (PPE).
When using PPE for essential care that cannot be delayed, use only the minimal necessary given the clinical condition of the patient and minimize the number of personnel involved in the care episode. Additionally, secure PPE at all times to prevent theft of these valuable supplies.
As healthcare providers, the preservation of PPE will enable PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and any additional ancillary care sites capable of treating acutely ill patients, to sustain operations. A community wide inventory, and centralized location for distribution, will be established in the very near future. As a first step, please have the person responsible for your supply coordination send their contact information to StJosephSupply@peacehealth.org
Thank you for your consideration in meeting the needs of our healthcare community.
Charles Prosper, Chief Executive, Northwest, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
Rodney Anderson, MD, President/CEO, Family Care Network
James Blackburn, MD Medical Director, Plastic Surgery Bellingham
James Bochsler, MD, Vice President PHMG Northwest
Thomas Flory, Executive Director, Fourth Corner Neurosurgical Associates
James Holstine, DO, Director, Total Joint Replacement, Fragility Fracture Program PeaceHealth
Barry Landau, MD, Medical Director, Fourth Corner Neurosurgical Associates
Dakotah Lane, MD, Executive Medical Director, Lummi Tribal Health Clinic
Jason C. Lichtenberger, MD, Medical Director, Bellingham Ear, Nose and Throat and Whatcom Surgery Center
Shayne Mora, MD, Executive Manager, Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center
Pam Novotny, Director, Bellingham Ambulatory Surgery Center
Vernon A. Orton, II MD, Medical Director, Bellingham Urology
Scott VanderLeest, MD, President, Bellingham Anesthesia Associates
Matthew VonFeldt, MD, Medical Director, Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center
Tim Whitney, MD, Medical Director, Plastic Surgery Bellingham
Community Healthcare Colleagues,
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating unprecedented demands on the healthcare community. Throughout the world, protecting healthcare providers during care delivery is foundational. Without healthy physicians, nurses and essential personnel, we will be unable to care for the community in a sustainable way.
We are asking you to immediately review and consider cancelling health care services, procedures and surgeries that, if delayed, are not anticipated to cause harm to the patient within the next three months. We believe it is necessary to keep the system from being overwhelmed and to preserve personal protective equipment (PPE).
When using PPE for essential care that cannot be delayed, use only the minimal necessary given the clinical condition of the patient and minimize the number of personnel involved in the care episode. Additionally, secure PPE at all times to prevent theft of these valuable supplies.
As healthcare providers, the preservation of PPE will enable PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and any additional ancillary care sites capable of treating acutely ill patients, to sustain operations. A community wide inventory, and centralized location for distribution, will be established in the very near future. As a first step, please have the person responsible for your supply coordination send their contact information to StJosephSupply@peacehealth.org
Thank you for your consideration in meeting the needs of our healthcare community.
Charles Prosper, Chief Executive, Northwest, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
Rodney Anderson, MD, President/CEO, Family Care Network
James Blackburn, MD Medical Director, Plastic Surgery Bellingham
James Bochsler, MD, Vice President PHMG Northwest
Thomas Flory, Executive Director, Fourth Corner Neurosurgical Associates
James Holstine, DO, Director, Total Joint Replacement, Fragility Fracture Program PeaceHealth
Barry Landau, MD, Medical Director, Fourth Corner Neurosurgical Associates
Dakotah Lane, MD, Executive Medical Director, Lummi Tribal Health Clinic
Jason C. Lichtenberger, MD, Medical Director, Bellingham Ear, Nose and Throat and Whatcom Surgery Center
Shayne Mora, MD, Executive Manager, Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center
Pam Novotny, Director, Bellingham Ambulatory Surgery Center
Vernon A. Orton, II MD, Medical Director, Bellingham Urology
Scott VanderLeest, MD, President, Bellingham Anesthesia Associates
Matthew VonFeldt, MD, Medical Director, Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center
Tim Whitney, MD, Medical Director, Plastic Surgery Bellingham