Kathy, I think this is a good idea and I also think that our members are completely slammed in this national and state emergency. What is most concerning to us right now, is the number of cases who are walking around out there without
symptoms, but have the virus and have not been tested. We cannot get any of our nurses tested. The tests are reserved for hospital personnel.
At PHS, we are spending multiple hours daily receiving updates from CDC and MDH, identifying, securing or chasing after PPE, making face shields and face masks, monitoring use of PPE, evaluating health concerns by our 400+ workforce,
creating letters for employees should the governor call for shelter at home, communicating with our families, communicating with our employees, creating and implementing flexible work from home policies, ensuring safe distances for all staff in the office,
trying to keep our patients at home, trying to meet the demands of the acute care facilities who are discharging patients in order to accommodate impending COVID-19 cases, ensuring we have adequate medical devices such a ventilators, airway clearance, oxygen,
oximeters to meet the need, and to keep paying the bills and ensuring sound revenue cycle management.
While I think your ideas about having providers who bring knowledge and expertise to the table is the only option, I am not sure how easy it will be to find the resources to advise you. We have all hands on deck and I am sure our
agency members do, also. I believe you’re going to want leadership involved, as they are the ones with the most current and necessary information. I hate being such a Debbie downer, but this is a real crisis.