GARDNER — Greater Gardner communities are gearing up for the surge in coronavirus infections that is predicted in the next few weeks, and Heywood Healthcare has a team focused on meeting the challenge.
In an effort to keep everyone informed, Heywood Healthcare President and CEO Win Brown has been producing a video each morning and evening to keep staff and the public at large informed. Though the growing number of infected cases has been sobering, the videos have helped to make sure all are prepared and taking precautions.
Heywood Healthcare has tested a total of 630 inpatients and outpatients, with total 430 tests ruled negative for COVID-19, not including “rule-out” patients and positive cases.
“You can see those (testing) numbers are improving, and that has to do with a better turnaround time. There are 70 positives in the community, showing a 14 percent positive rate,” said Brown on Friday.
Brown also reported that the state has tested approximately 57,000 patients, with about 9,000 positive results and an estimated 14 percent positive rate. There have been 154 deaths across the state.
Brown praised the work of Gov. Charlie Baker, and he also noted Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, for bringing more than a million needed N95 masks to Massachusetts from China. Brown said he believes Heywood will be seeing some of those same supplies sometime next week.
“We appreciate that as we are always working on keeping our supplies up,” he said.
Brown reported that after a “somewhat intense” incident command meeting Friday morning, the staff is preparing beds for the surge predicted by the numbers that are visibly increasing.
Currently there are 11 patients in-house waiting for test results to be returned. Five patients in-house have tested positive. Three of those are in ICU and ventilated, and two are on the medical surge floor.
“We are starting to feel the tick up about the viral node in our community as we start ramping up over the course of this next couple of weeks,” said Brown.
Brown said there is an effort to help staff keep food on their table at home. There are also those reaching out with counseling to help staff with anxiety, saying there will be no copay and no one will be turned away as they tackle the pandemic. Brown encouraged the staff to utilize the resources they have available.
There is concern over available ventilators.
Dawn Casavant, vice president of external affairs, said that between Athol Hospital and Heywood Hospital there are six ventilators. There are also ventilators used for different purposes such as anesthesia and bypass. She said it all depends on a patient’s needs which ventilator will be used.
Casavant said they are hoping to see another six to 10 ventilators from the state.
Casavant talked of the plans to maximize beds for the surge. The hospital is licensed for 134 beds. She said they are planning to move patients to Athol Hospital that are not COVID-19 patients, and making Heywood Hospital the place where COVID-19 patients will be treated, surging into the different units as the numbers grow.
In related news
In Winchendon, the virus numbers are growing. Town Manager Keith Hickey said in a call Friday that six people have been diagnosed within the town and tests have been administered to others who are awaiting the results.
He said all are quarantined to minimize exposure to others.
Hickey reported that the Department of Public Health anticipates that in two to three weeks the state will experience a peak of those testing positive for COVID-19. He said that to reduce the rise in the virus it is critical to adhere to the safe hygiene practices and vigilant social distancing.
“It is possible for people to spread the virus up to 40 hours before they have symptoms. That is why it is so important to practice social distancing,” said Hickey, advising at least six feet between two people.
Hickey said that town offices and the Department of Public Works are working split shifts in order to follow the advised social distancing guidelines. He said the police and fire will continue to respond to emergencies.
