Managing a Covid-19 surge

Metro New York has been in a coronavirus downswing for some time. But when the surge hit the region, our health system was in the eye of the storm. Northwell Health treated more Covid-19 patients than any other organization in the US.

During the height of the crisis, our teams adapted moment by moment to meet the challenges of an unknown, relentless illness. They created solutions to critical shortages — vents, testing supplies, inpatient space. They pivoted from ambulatory and post-acute care to meet surge capacity. And they accomplished two-month projects in two days.

Through it all, maintaining our colleagues' safety and morale was top priority. Caring for staff in the middle of a pandemic goes beyond mandating PPE. Constant communication helps to foster unity, and providing much-needed support can help staff members to reduce stress.

See how Northwell navigated the Covid surge in my latest column for Becker's Hospital Review.