Through all the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, there were two themes that underpinned Friday’s visit by Newman Regional Health administrators to KVOE’s Talk of Emporia: dedication and gratitude.
The program Friday came a day after the national public health emergency was officially lifted. Chief Executive Officer Bob Wright says he was grateful for partnerships that developed early in the pandemic and have continued since then.
Through work of business partners, ESU, the Greater Emporia Area Disaster Relief Fund, hospital staff, hospital volunteers and others, the hospital was able to meet its needs and positioned itself to serve the area.
One thing COVID forced hospitals to do was adjust procedures, in some cases repeatedly. Chief Administrative Officer Cathy Pimple says there were long hours spent planning and, in many ways, sifting through a lot of information.
Infection Preventionist and Quality Manager Ester Knobloch says there was constant study involved.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alana Longwell says hospital staff had to work through supply chain issues and also a fair amount of pushback to COVID-related procedures and protocols as the pandemic unfolded.
Besides following the end of the pandemic emergency, Friday’s Talk of Emporia came on the last day of National Hospital Week.
The pandemic came to Emporia in late March 2020, causing over 12,300 confirmed cases and nearly 140 deaths just in Lyon County. Besides the challenges with stocking personal protective equipment, Newman Regional Health had to make several adjustments to its patient visitor procedures, especially during the first two years of the pandemic before conditions began easing over the past year. Wright and other hospital administrators also made repeated visits on KVOE’s airwaves, especially during peak infection times.
With the public health emergency now over, Lyon County Public Health is no longer updating the county’s COVID-19 dashboard. Of the 12,350 total cases and 137 deaths through the pandemic, 411 cases and eight deaths have been reported this calendar year.
