Getting Better
President's Letter
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were days when we were treating more than 30 patients suffering from virus symptoms. That was last fall. This fall, when another COVID wave hit, we saw the numbers inch precariously close to that level again. Since May of 2020, we have had approximately 1,560 COVID patient encounters, including in the Emergency Department and outpatient and inpatient visits. Nearly 90 percent of these people were unvaccinated, a statistic we began collecting in January 2021. We’ve had 67 people die from COVID-19 at the hospital. All but one was unvaccinated, and that one had received the first of two doses.
These are collective statistics, of course. Every patient is an individual, and Mary Greeley staff—from nurses to respiratory therapists, environmental services workers to physicians—will carry the stories of COVID-19 patients with them for the rest of their lives. They won’t forget the young firefighter who died in our ICU from COVID. His body was escorted to a local funeral home by a convoy of fire trucks and police vehicles. They won’t forget the rugged gentleman who thought COVID-19 was a hoax until it almost killed him. He’s now an advocate for vaccination and has successfully convinced friends and family to get the shot. They won’t forget the pregnant woman who, after an emergency C-section, was admitted to our ICU with severe COVID symptoms, fighting for her life. She survived, but it was days before she could be reunited with her beautiful baby boy.
Increasing COVID-19 numbers, while troubling, were not the biggest part of the story over the past several months. Mary Greeley, like so many Iowa hospitals, was incredibly busy treating patients with a range of conditions. Also, like many Iowa hospitals, we strained our staff to provide the best possible care for the people who came through our doors. I am immensely proud of the work our staff has done during this challenging time. They’ve put in long hours and faced stressful situations, but their commitment has never wavered. They are awesome. I’m also proud to say that as of November 1, about 89 percent of our staff have been vaccinated for COVID-19.
As we approach 2022, there is reason for optimism. More people are choosing to be vaccinated and more people are now eligible for vaccination.
Amid all this, Mary Greeley opened a new obstetrics and pediatrics unit. It’s a bright place, filled with smiles, hope, and new life.
Brian Dieter
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