February 2021

2021: Vaccines Bring Hope for Relief from Pandemic

We faced a stage in the COVID-19 pandemic that we hoped never to reach, with more hospitalizations and deaths than ever before. But hospitalizations are now dropping quickly and we are headed in the right direction. The availability of vaccines is giving us tools and illuminating hope that with continued perseverance we can get to the other side. As of February 5, the total doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines administered at Highland was 4,745. We are grateful for the prompt availability of the vaccine and the NYSDOH prioritization criteria that lets us make it available to physicians and APPs, those involved in direct patient care, and eventually for all staff. We anticipate a continued supply so that each person has the opportunity to receive the vaccine. We urge you to take advantage of this offering, unless you have health problems that make you at risk. So far each person who has received the vaccine at Highland has reported no serious side effects.

Collins Unit Opens

The Collins Auditorium and Gleason Conference Rooms at Highland have been temporarily transformed into a 13-bed inpatient unit. Members of Highland's multidisciplinary Surge Plan Team worked rapidly to build the physical space and implement a structure for patient flow and staffing during this critical time in pandemic hospitalizations. The Unit will lessen the burden of hall beds in the hospital while it operates over capacity due to the spike of COVID-19 patients. 

Highland Redesign Efforts Address COVID Challenges

Highland’s Operational Redesign Team of experts from across our organization work with leaders to create and nurture an environment that is discernably safe for colleagues, patients, and the community. As COVID-19 hospitalizations remain prevalent in the community, and the first vaccinations became available for health care workers at high risk, team efforts prioritized putting a plan in place to administer the vaccinations safely and efficiently with an ultimate goal of providing vaccinations to all employees and providers in the Highland family.

Jason Pacos, M.D. Named Highland Chief of Cardiology

Highland Hospital announces the appointment of Jason D. Pacos, M.D, as Highland Chief of Cardiology. Dr. Pacos previously served as Associate Chief and has served UR Medicine in roles since 2010 as Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Medical Director of Highland Cardiology Echocardiographic Laboratory, and Cardiology Attending in the Strong Memorial Hospital Cardiovascular ICU.

Improving Lives with BETTR FLOW

“The BETTR (Bed Management, EVS, Transport, Transfer and Reporting ) Flow Program, recently introduced at Highland, has the potential to dramatically improve the experience of receiving and providing care,” said Libby Jewsbury, Highland's Director of Patient Flow and Census Management.