Jennie Stuart Health of Friday issued an open letter to the community expressing concern with the ongoing rise of COVID-19 cases.
The letter, which is signed by Jennie Stuart CEO Eric Lee, Medical Staff President Michael Murray and Medical Group Vice President Keith Toms, pleads with the public to take extra measures to be diligent in the fight against coronavirus in order to avoid a “situation where hospitals are full.”
“Please, wear a mask, stay socially distant, wash your hands regularly, and protect your loved ones by considering reduced numbers at gatherings during the holidays,” the letter urges, pointing out that “we are at a crossroads in this pandemic.”
The appeal expresses concern about the ongoing trend in cases locally and notes that staffing is the resource the hospital is most concerned about.
Beth McCraw, the hospital’s vice president of nursing and clinical services, told Hoptown Chronicle last month that front line nurses — many of whom had been working one to two extra days each week since March — were being stretched to their limits.
As of Friday morning, the hospital was treating 23 patients for coronavirus. Over the last seven days, Jennie Stuart has seen an average of 20 COVID-19 patients per day.
