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Mercy Co-workers Mobilize to Support Caregivers

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January 21, 2022
Mercy Co-workers Mobilize to Support Caregivers

Co-workers across four states step in to assist frontline teams

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Jan. 21, 2022) COVID-19 has created an ongoing strain on health care providers for almost two years. Spiking hospitalizations, limited resources and co-worker quarantines are, sadly, nothing new. What is new is a variant of the coronavirus that is nearly as transmissible as measles. The result across the country has been record numbers of infections, both among the public and the courageous, selfless health care workers who keep hospitals running.
“Omicron has made staffing shortages worse, with a record number of COVID cases keeping some of our caregivers sick at home,” said Betty Jo Rocchio, Mercy’s senior vice president and chief nursing officer. “Given the situation we face, we’re asking co-workers who normally aren’t involved in patient care to help in non-clinical roles giving our clinical teams more time with patients.”
Due to the current COVID surge and an increased number of co-worker quarantines both fueled by the omicron variant, along with a national labor shortage, Mercy is asking co-workers in non-patient care jobs to sign up and help with tasks outside their usual job descriptions, such as stocking and refreshing supplies, transporting patients and assisting patients with daily care activities. 
“It's no surprise with Mercy’s culture that hospital administrators are pushing wheelchairs, accountants are emptying trash cans and marketing professionals are serving meals, whatever it takes to make sure that our co-workers who provide hands-on patient care are able to focus on their patients,” said Steve Mackin, Mercy incoming president and chief executive officer. 
These non-clinical co-workers are not asked to provide direct patient-care tasks, instead, they fill the many support services within a hospital that are crucial to maintaining high standards and exceptional care. Mercy hopes to meet the moment and get the help needed to ensure clinical teams can remove administrative burdens and continue to deliver high-quality care to an even greater number of patients who need it. All non-clinical co-workers who assist will receive the necessary training and compensation for their work.
“Make no mistake - it’s our nurses and providers who are doing the heavy lifting,” said Crystal Milde, Mercy executive assistant in Springfield, Missouri. She stepped up to help on an inpatient unit right away. “But I wanted to do anything I could to help. I was answering call lights and one patient in particular kept calling. I went into his room, and he said he was lonely.” Milde was able to spend time with him, and even convinced him to eat, which he had not been doing.
Maeghan Kidd manages Mercy Clinic OB/GYN – Seminole Fremont. What her administrative teammates may not know is she’s also a licensed practical nurse, so when the opportunity to help in the hospital opened, she jumped right in.
“I have friends who work on the inpatient floors and I know they need extra hands. Because I’m a nurse, I can do things like blood sugar checks and general care. It feels good knowing I’m helping my co-workers and our patients.”
Others echo the gratitude they feel in being able to support clinical co-workers.
"I’ve stripped beds and helped clean patient rooms, serving alongside our amazing environmental services team,” said Katie Horton, who has worked from her St. Louis home throughout the pandemic as a manager of talent selection with Mercy’s human resources team. “We’re focused on turning over rooms so another patient can get in a room as soon as possible.
One of my co-workers asked me if someone was making me do this. I assured her I’m here by choice and just want to help. That seemed to put a smile on her face. We really are here to serve wherever there is the greatest need.” For many, Mercy’s response to lending a hand comes as no surprise.
“This kind of can-do spirit is in Mercy’s DNA,” said Rocchio. “When given the opportunity, hundreds of co-workers immediately signed up and are already working side by side with their clinical co-workers to do whatever they can to assist.”
*Video and interviews available upon request.
*Photo caption: Maeghan Kidd, Mercy Clinic practice manager and LPN, assists on an inpatient unit at Mercy Hospital Springfield.
Contact:
Sonya Kullmann
Sonya.Kullmann@mercy.net, 417-820-2426

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