June 2020

Dr. Medina-Walpole to Lead American Geriatrics Society

Annette (Annie) Medina-Walpole, M.D., recently took the helm as president of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) leading the 6,000-member national society that implements and advocates for programs in geriatrics patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy.

Infection Prevention Department: Central to Highland’s COVID-19 Efforts

Highland’s Infection Prevention Department has been immersed in Highland’s COVID-19 preparation and implementation efforts from the start. COVID preparations fall under the emergency management structure where Linda Greene, RN, MPN, CIC-FAPIC, department manager, Infection Prevention, serves as the lead for the Infection Prevention section working closely with Eric Heintz, M.D., hospital epidemiologist, and Michelle Vignari, RN, BSN, CIC, infection preventionist. Sherry Romig, RN, BSN,CIC, provides infection prevention COVID expertise in the areas of sterilization, disinfection, and facility issues. However, physicians and staff across the hospital are members of the emergency management team and the entire Infection Prevention team is working on issues surrounding COVID.

ICU in Front Lines Fighting COVID-19 Pandemic

The most critical COVID-19 patients at Highland were cared for in the ICU. The unit and staff had to prepare to care for COVID and non-COVID patients while keeping patients and staff safe and adjust to the ever-changing knowledge about the virus, its symptoms, and its impact.

Observation Unit Transformed into COVID-19 Care Unit

Highland’s Observation Unit, led by Keely Dwyer-Matzky M.D., M.S., medical director and Eric North, CCRN, nurse manager, has been transformed into a unit that exclusively cares for COVID-19 patients and those under investigation for the disease.

The Role of Highland’s Hospitalists in COVID Care

Hospitalists care for patients across the hospital so when COVID hit and there was a lot of unknown they were eager to learn as much as they could about how to best care for patients, stay safe, and help the community.