The recent COVID-19 surge has hit Cooley Dickinson hard. December and January were among the most difficult months in our recent history. True to hospitals across the commonwealth and in the Pioneer Valley, patients sought care in record numbers — some with COVID symptoms, but many for other reasons. Unfortunately, the incidence of cancer, stroke and heart disease continue to impact our community while the pandemic continues to disrupt our lives.
Cooley Dickinson is not immune to challenges that are impacting our field: violence against health care workers; capacity constraints; pandemic-related financial strain, staffing shortages, and inequities in access to health care.
Locally, once again, our staff have stepped up, like they always do. Throughout this most recent surge, everyone has worked together to care for our patients and support each other in astounding, heartfelt ways.
As Cooley Dickinson’s new president and CEO, I am inspired by the teams of Cooley Dickinson employees and filled with gratitude to work with such talented, caring, and committed colleagues. In addition, we appreciate the support from our community; it has meant so much to us during these past two years.
Despite passing the peak of the omicron surge, we still see COVID in our communities. Rates of positive tests are on the decline; the numbers of hospitalized patients have decreased. But the effects of the most recent surge still linger.
We know the virus will continue to mutate and new variants are likely a future reality. It is imperative that we wear masks when inside in public spaces, practice social distancing, and stay home when we are sick. We strongly urge everyone eligible to receive the vaccine and booster shots do so as soon as possible.
However difficult the work, we soldier on. Looking beyond omicron, what is next for Cooley Dickinson? We will continue to care for you, our community. As we experience a shift from the intensity of the past few months, we pause briefly to reconfigure spaces within the hospital and reassess our testing locations. We monitor the supply chain with our colleagues at Mass General Brigham and keep a watchful eye on blood products and vaccine allocations. We reassemble teams of nurses and support staff who have been deployed to different parts of the hospital to support areas hit hardest by our recent surge. We partner with our medical staff to provide the safe, high-quality care that is the hallmark of our commitment to our community.
For you, we prepare to schedule appointments for procedures, treatments and surgeries that have been delayed and thank you for your patience as guidance from public health required us to pause most elective surgeries. We continue our safe care commitment: we maintain the requirement of full vaccination for employment, and Mass General Brigham Cooley Dickinson now requires booster shots as a condition of employment. With our Safe Care Commitment, we “screen, clean, and protect” to keep you safe during your visit.
With the strength of our staff and programs and our affiliation with Mass General Brigham — and backed by this generous community — I am excited for our future and proud to lead Cooley Dickinson. We remain committed to building the best possible community health system and remain ready to serve your health care needs. When you need us, we are here to care for you safely.
Lynnette Watkins, MD, MBA, is president & CEO of Cooley Dickinson Health Care.