April 13, 2020 - COVID-19 has gripped our nation and world, with more than a million confirmed cases reported globally, including several thousand here in Tennessee. The number of cases is climbing so rapidly that more specific statistics would almost immediately be inaccurate.

The healthcare community continually prepares for the unexpected throughout the year, including scenarios involving a rapid influx of patients requiring hospital services. We're using predictive modeling to continue preparing and mobilizing, but no one can be certain as to what we could experience locally as we collaborate to flatten the curve.

Considering Nashville's reputation as the nation's healthcare capital, our community is especially fortunate to serve as home to three large, sophisticated and well-equipped health systems working collaboratively to support Middle Tennesseans through the COVID-19 pandemic. Ascension Saint Thomas is thankful for the tireless work of our committed caregivers, who remain well-prepared, diligent and organized during this unprecedented chaos. Know that we stand ready and prepared to care for our community through this crisis.

Thankfully, we can all work together to lessen the impact of this virus within our community. It starts with following guidance from our health officials, including:

• Staying at home as much as possible and practicing social distancing when outside
• Washing your hands and disinfecting highly-trafficked areas and frequently touched surfaces
• Trying not to touch your face and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper sleeve (not your hands)
• Not sharing potentially contaminated objects with others
• Avoiding contact with infected people until they have fully recovered

These measures can dramatically help minimize the spread of this deadly virus and help keep Middle Tennesseans healthy and out of the hospital.

Local healthcare organizations must also collaborate with each other and with our local, state and federal officials to ensure alignment in how we are working to treat and defeat the virus. Our local ministry is also blessed to be part of a national health system, which allows us to leverage our combined strength and share resources where possible. We are indeed stronger together.

We must also recognize and support our associates and local caregivers as much as possible. As an organization, we strive to care for our associates in the same way they care for our patients -- compassionately and holistically -- taking mind, body and spirit into account. Here are a few ways we're currently doing that:

• We're doing everything we can to protect the pay of associates during this time of disruption, including a commitment to no layoffs and a variety of pay protection programs. We'll continue to do this for as long as possible.
• We're implementing daycare subsidies and reimbursements for associates who care for COVID-19 patients and may need to stay in a hotel to ensure social distancing from family members.
• We've shifted many of our primary care and other non-emergency providers to Ascension Online Care, our virtual care platform, in an effort to continue to provide care to the community, but in a safer way for everyone given present circumstances.
• We're providing associates with a variety of self-care resources including virtual on-demand spiritual care, as well as resources for meditation and mindfulness, physical exercise and nutrition.
• We're creating opportunities for associates in our hospitals to shop for essential groceries and purchase family meals in our cafeterias.
• We're launching a financial hardship program through our foundation that will help provide additional support to our associates outside of those areas mentioned above.

It's no surprise that Tennessee is known as "The Volunteer State" - a nickname earned back in 1812. It's been heartwarming to see our community members and organizations stepping up to help and support in this time of need. We've received many generous donations of supplies and personal protective equipment from Healing Hands and other community partners, meals for our caregivers from Feeding the Front Lines and so many thoughtful acts of kindness to encourage and lift up our caregivers. The Davidson County Sheriff's Office paraded by Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown honking horns and applauding our caregivers. The Murfreesboro community filled the parking lot at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford where community members stayed in their cars and cheered out their windows to show their appreciation to our medical team. These are just two examples of the outpouring of love and support we're experiencing. This truly is a special community.

This work is rooted in our Mission to care for all people, especially those most vulnerable. It's what we've done for more than a century, it's what we're doing now, and it's what we will continue to do as we move through this trying time. It's going to take all of us, but we can and we will beat this - together.