Bayhealth moves to crisis standards of care

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As a regional healthcare leader, Bayhealth is taking steps to meet the most urgent hospital needs in the local community. In order to sustain life-saving work, Bayhealth and their colleagues across the state are operating with Crisis Standards of Care protocol, which will help the institution deliver the highest level of care possible – “especially when demand far surpasses available resources, as is the case currently in our emergency departments, and walk-in clinics.”

“Since the beginning of the pandemic we have been deeply committed to providing the care our community needs. Despite the many challenges we have faced, we have been vigilant about safety precautions and preparations to deliver necessary healthcare services,” said Bayhealth President and CEO Terry Murphy, FACHE. “These are unprecedented times for our communities here in Delaware. The current COVID-19 crisis calls for swift decisive action by our entire medical community, which is under siege by this deadly illness. This most recent spike has taken a heavy toll on our resources and staffing that were already strained. Implementing Crisis Standards of Care is the necessary next step to allow our caregivers to deliver care in the safest and most effective manner to those in our community who need us most.”

 

 

With the activation of Crisis Standards of Care protocol, processes at Bayhealth can be streamlined or modified. This includes but is not limited to the following: re-deploying staff and physicians, postponing elective surgeries, adding new units and reallocating spaces for care, working with skilled nursing facilities to discharge patients to appropriate settings more efficiently, and utilizing additional staffing support including the National Guard.

“We are calling on everyone in our community to take personal responsibility and help us end this fight,” said Murphy.

Get fully vaccinated and get your booster shot if you are eligible.
Wear a mask (even if you are vaccinated) and socially distance.
Continue to wash your hands regularly and use hand sanitizers.
Do not go to the emergency room unless you are experiencing a medical emergency.
If you feel sick, please contact your primary care doctor, or visit a walk-in clinic. We need to reserve emergency services for people who need them most.
If you need to be tested for COVID-19, utilize one of the free testing sites near your home listed on the State of Delaware Coronavirus Website.
Visit https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/ to get the most up to date information related to COVID-19 in your community.

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