SYSTEM NEWS

JUNE 2020

HOW INNOVATION HELPED PREPARE FOR PANDEMIC

When Penn Medicine opened its drive- the design and logistics of the Radnor solutions. And many of these changes through COVID-19 testing site in a testing site and a sister location in West and innovations are here to stay, offering Radnor parking lot on a mid-March Philadelphia, Commack asked for help convenience and safety for our patients. Monday, site lead Tracey Commack, closing the loop with patients by ensuring “We built programs based on the future, MBA, Penn Medicine Radnor’s associate they would receive their test results. “In and a lot of the future involves using executive director, had one big worry: the beginning,” she said, “it was so chaotic technology and telemedicine,” said how would patients get their test results? with the results.” David Asch, MD, MBA, executive To prevent the spread of the potentially By Wednesday (two days after the director of the Innovation Center. deadly virus, people who came to Radnor testing site opened), the innovation team “Because we were fundamentally focused for testing had minimal contact with delivered. Using Way to Health, Penn on that future — and that future is part Penn providers: they registered over the Medicine’s patient engagement software of the present response to COVID — phone, held up their identification to platform, the team built an automated we’re able to help.” be photographed from a safe distance text message program that gave the But Penn’s COVID-19 innovation and stayed in their car for a nasal swab. testing site’s patients a phone number to } COVID Watch keeps patients self-isolating at work is about more than high-tech home connected with Penn nurses. Many of those tested weren’t even Penn call for their results and other follow-up developments, Asch said. It has also Medicine patients, Commack said, and information. “We connected them with depended on mobilizing a passionate some of whom were unable to continue they left the site with no evidence they’d someone to call,” Commack said. “That staff that was willing to try something hospital work during the pandemic and ever been there. “It was a weird way to took this weight off my shoulders.” new. Innovation is a team effort, he instead provide clinical service from practice medicine,” she said. A Track Record of Innovation said, and the center has joined up with home. “We recruited a set of nurses to On daily debrief calls with the Penn stakeholders from throughout Penn provide coverage for the program 24/7,” Penn Medicine had a long track record Medicine Center for Health Care Medicine. “This required enormous said COVID Watch clinical lead Anna of innovation — building tools and Innovation, which played a key role in effort from many groups within the Morgan, MD, a Penn Medicine primary designing processes that rethink health organization,” he said. care doctor who focuses on population care delivery. Now the Health System’s health and care management. “We all want innovative learnings and platforms were Keeping Tabs on COVID to be able to contribute to COVID and being deployed in the all-hands-on-deck Patients at Home we all have to find our way of doing it.” fight against COVID-19. The 10-year- Penn’s nurses are one such group. old Way to Health platform, along with COVID Watch, which was also enabled COVID Watch, a text message program the provider-facing data platform Agent, by Way to Health technology, lets patients that monitors patients with COVID-19 were among the building blocks laying send a text message relaying a concerning symptoms as they self-isolate at home, the foundation for new pandemic-era symptom, such as difficulty breathing, is staffed by redeployed Penn nurses, Continued on page 2

Penn Medicine has a long track record of innovation — more than a decade of building tools

and designing processes that rethink health care delivery.

IN THIS ISSUE Three Lessons Learned from COVID-19: Penn Medicine Shapes a “New Normal” From the Pandemic What Comes Next? The Impact of the “COVID Economy”...... 2 from CEO Kevin Mahoney Hall Mercer’s Front-Line Flexibility...... 2 Our normal has always been a little extraordinary. Before the world turned upside down in so many ways due to COVID-19, we found familiarity in the way we took care of our patients, developed revolutionary ideas, implemented bold strategic PM @ Work...... 3 moves and supported each other. The Urgency of Homelessness Socrates once said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but building on the new.” During COVID-19...... 3 We are constantly building the new, and the recent pandemic has only accelerated the urgency of our quest. The lessons Food for the Body and we’ve learned from the coronavirus pandemic will only further our mission of providing outstanding patient care, conducting the Soul...... 3 breakthrough research, and creating new educational initiatives. Leadership Transitions in 1. We will continue to take action, fighting for the health and well-being of our patients and the communities we serve. Neurosciences...... 4 The last few months have demonstrated that we are all in this together. From administering chemotherapy to cancer patients right in their own home, Difference Makers...... 4 to providing residents in West Philadelphia with coronavirus testing and educational resources, to swiftly standing up clinical trials to learn more about potential treatments to fight this virus, every single one of us stepped up to answer the call of our patients and our community. Special Insert: Penn Medicine’s COVID Heroes Continued on page 4 11 WHAT COMES

NEXT? } Jeneane Johnson (r) with Donna Cartwright THE IMPACT OF THE “COVID ECONOMY” Hall-Mercer’s In addition to the efforts focused on finding new treatments for COVID-19 FRONT-LINE and a coronavirus vaccine, Penn researchers are also looking to the FLEXIBILITY future and asking, what will the aftermath of the pandemic be for public

health, health care delivery, and the economy? Fellows of the University of Social distancing is vital to curb the spread of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute (LDI) have been diving into these COVID-19, but Philadelphians struggling with behavioral health issues still need access topics and more in a series of virtual seminars. to services provided by Pennsylvania Hospital’s Hall-Mercer Community Mental Health Center. With a bit of flexibility, Hall-Mercer’s resourceful teams have continued providing Atheendar Venkataramani, MD, PhD, between economic chaos and poor mental he said, noting that robust public health compassionate care for these high-risk a general internist at Penn Presbyterian health, exacerbated chronic conditions, interventions, generous social safety nets, populations. Medical Center and a senior fellow of adverse effects on blood pressure and and strong government leadership are Individuals who receive mental health the LDI, is not only an avid viewer of blood glucose, and increased incidence crucial in ensuring one unprecedented treatment at Hall-Mercer are still able to, the Experts at Home series — “I haven’t of domestic violence and deaths by drug disaster (the pandemic) doesn’t lead to thanks to nurses Jeneane Johnson, MSN, missed one yet!” he said — but he also overdose and suicide. He also detailed another (an economic meltdown). and Donna Cartwright, BSN. Johnson gave a presentation exploring the likely evidence of long-term negative effects for “What do we want things to look like manages the injection clinic and distributes health consequences of the economic those exposed early in life, such as babies after COVID-19 is long gone? Having antipsychotic medications, and while downturn from the crisis. While there is born to stressed mothers, children kept these tough conversations gives us an COVID-19 has “dramatically changed” uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and out of school, or young adults entering opportunity to constructively engage operations, she remains on the front lines the “COVID economy,” Venkataramani the job market. with each other and put into place administering more than 100 injections explained that we have historical evidence While his seminar painted a grim picture, new systems and policies that will every month. to guide our understanding of the Venkataramani insisted that not all is improve circumstances for everyone possibilities. As part of the Targeted Case Management bleak. “It’s not about making a trade-off going forward. That’s what keeps me team, Cartwright helps community Pointing to health data following between public health and the economy, optimistic,” he said. members manage their medical needs and downturns like the Great Recession of but about trying to make sure people feel live independently in order to remain out 2008, Venkataramani discussed the links safe to engage in economic activity again,” of the hospital. Now, as Johnson’s “right- hand woman,” she oversees the injection clinic once a week, freeing up Johnson to work with case managers and pharmacies to reroute prescriptions via mail and check in Continued from page 1 HOW INNOVATION with patients virtually. HELPED PREPARE FOR PANDEMIC “Our population requires a lot of support,” Cartwright explained. “In addition to educating them, we’re offering reassurance and receive a call back from a nurse Now live across all of Penn Medicine, tried to create something that would be that we’re still here,” Johnson said. “We’re within an hour, Morgan said. The nurse’s COVID Watch has inspired other beneficial for all,” he said. “Nourished is friendly faces they can rely on — even if telephone assessment will determine iterations, such as Pregnancy Watch, what came out of that.” they can’t see our smiles under our masks!” the patient’s next step, whether it’s a which tailors the COVID Watch Hospital staff can use the Nourished trip to the hospital, a primary care visit protocol to expectant mothers and their For the preschoolers with autism or platform to purchase a subsidized shift or a telemedicine checkup using Penn clinicians. Pregnancy Watch is run by Adi developmental delays who attend the Early meal from a local restaurant, which then Medicine OnDemand, a platform also Hirshberg, MD, and Sindhu Srinivas, Childhood Program (ECP), Hall-Mercer’s delivers dozens of individually packaged developed by the innovation center. Once MD, Penn obstetricians who, with the services have become entirely virtual. meals to the hospital at once, reducing reserved for Penn employees, the Center help of the innovation center in 2014, For children who are nonverbal or struggle visitors to help prevent disease spread. for Connected Care had already begun to created Heart Safe Motherhood, a blood to express their emotions, the disruptions Options are limited to keep the process expand that program shortly before the pressure monitoring program for new caused by COVID-19 are especially simple for providers and predictable for pandemic. mothers with preeclampsia. challenging. partner restaurants: one eatery offers just COVID Watch also borrowed principles Meals Delivered to Staff … a few selections per meal. To ensure continuity of care in this from BreatheBetterTogether, a 2017 unpredictable time, the ECP offers Safely Nourished started as a text message innovation center partnership that weekly family therapy. During one-hour platform using Way to Health technology. remotely monitors patients with chronic Other COVID-19 innovations at telemedicine sessions, clinicians coach Team members Cathy Reitz, Caitlin obstructive pulmonary disease, said Penn focus not on patients, but on parents through routines their children McDonald, and Jessica Sung were Neda Khan, an applications specialist the providers caring for them. Ryan struggle with, such as getting ready or eating modified existing functionality launch an for the Way to Health platform. These Schumacher, an innovation associate at lunch. The ECP team also checks in with initial pilot to test demand for the service. principles include texting language, she the Innovation Center, wanted to make parents, shares resource and has developed “We couldn’t have asked for a better said, and automatically disabling texts for shift meals more convenient for hospital support groups. Virtual play dates also platform to have internally,” Schumacher patients who are admitted to the hospital. staff and more streamlined for the Health allow the children to practice socializing said. To add the functionality Nourished “We’ve taken some really great features of System. And, as a self-described foodie, with their classmates. needed, the team developed the program BreatheBetterTogether,” Khan said, “and Schumacher sought to help Philadelphia’s into a web application. “We’re doing our best to meet each child’s tailored them to patients who may be eateries, who saw crushing declines in needs,” said ECP coordinator Diondra COVID positive.” business during the pandemic. “We Typically, innovation center projects Brown, MSW, LSW. “Maintaining that take six months to several years to go } Nourished helps make take-out safer and more connection will make for a better transition convenient for employees from concept to scale, Schumacher said. back.” Judging by the grateful feedback Thanks to the COVID-19 health crisis, they’ve received from parents and the giggles Nourished got there in a matter of weeks. and smiles the children share virtually, the “Everything is incredibly accelerated team’s creative problem-solving is working. right now,” Schumacher said. “Everyone understands the urgency of this. Everyone is making the time.”

2 pennmedicine@WORK INSPIRED COLLABORATION Serves our Patients and the Soul

When a crisis hits, helpers go where the help is needed. And for many Penn Medicine “This was certainly an ‘all hands on deck’ situation to provide ample staff and operationalize staff, they did it in a systematic and organized way. For example, chemotherapy nurses the care inside the tents,” Kanter said. “Overall, the process was seamless — we submitted our from outpatient practices went to patient homes to provide life-saving infusions. Patient requests and then we created a roster of staff who we were able to train and put to work. We service associates (PSAs) worked at the COVID testing site at Penn Medicine Radnor truly wouldn’t have been able to do it without the centralized redeployment efforts.” doing thermal screenings and running to patient cars to gather demographic information In addition, support from CPUP leadership, EHR Transformation, Nursing Professional and then running it back inside to the PSAs doing check-in. Development and the Center for Health Care Innovation were instrumental with many of Responding to this challenge required many parts of a puzzle to come together. It began the key processes: onboarding, regulatory and general operations. with creating a three-tiered workforce redeployment process — for within departments, It was an amazing accomplishment to stand up these tents in very short order, but it was within entities (CPUP Workforce Redeployment Center) and on a systemwide level the collaboration and comradery among the staff that was most special to witness. Clinical (Enterprise Workforce Redeployment Center). To ensure its success, several things staff including MAs, LPNs, RNs, APPs, residents, fellows and attendings came together were put in place, such as an online request form, assignment teams (physician, licensed from our various CPUP practices to support the tents’ staffing needs. The Departments of professionals, non-licensed professionals), and a real-time dashboard to keep everyone up Medicine, Surgery, Dermatology, Orthopaedics, Neurology, Podiatry, Family Medicine and to speed. Community Health, and Ophthalmology were all represented between the two tents. One of the initiatives that benefitted were the Influenza Like Illness (ILI) ED Surge “Every single team member had to learn a brand new process,” Kanter said. “Witnessing Tents. As the Health System was gearing up for the potential “surge” of COVID-19 their flexibility, positive attitudes and dedication to the greater cause was very inspiring.” patients, several Penn Medicine emergency departments (EDs) prepared for the possible influx of patients by erecting tents help reduce the risk of infection in the hospital. Fortunately, with consistently low volumes, the decision was made to transition the tents They were able to triage and treat symptomatic patients before they entered, sometimes back to ED management and staffing. As the Health System continues to navigate this preventing an ED admission altogether. pandemic and monitor volumes, tent usage will be reevaluated if there are predictions of a COVID surge on the horizon. To find adequate resources for these tents would be nothing short of a Herculean feat. For the ILI ED Surge Tents at HUP and PPMC, Heather Smith, RN, MJ, business director of HUP’s Cardiovascular, Thoracic, Transplant & Vascular Surgery andRachel Kanter, Stay up-to-date with our COVID-19 response efforts by reading the COVID-19 Daily Update MSN, RN, clinical manager of the Spine Access Center, worked with the Enterprise sent to you via email every day. Bookmark the COVID-19 Intranet site by going to What’s Hot Workforce Redeployment Center to help staff up and train as many employees as possible. and clicking on COVID-19 Updates just below the header.

The URGENCY of Homelessness During COVID-19 When residents are ordered to shelter in place, what happens to those without shelter? It’s one of many concerns being addressed by the Lancaster County Homeless Coalition (Lanc Co MyHome), part of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.

Lanc Co MyHome brings together more than 200 partners — a cross-section of industries from health care to housing, government offices, and human services organizations — around a common agenda of helping homeless people in Lancaster County. The coronavirus pandemic, which affects everyone, adds urgency to challenges already faced by our homeless population. “When the library and other businesses close, suddenly there for the Body and the Soul is nowhere for folks to go to get out of the rain, use a bathroom, or wash their hands,” Food explained Jennifer L. Koppel, MHA, director of the Office for the Lancaster County Chester County Hospital and the community it serves have had a special relationship for Homeless Coalition. over 125 years. So when the country was faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, without missing a beat, the employees came together to take care of the community, providing the Within the first days of closures, Koppel reached out to community partners to keep best care possible during an unprecedented time. And, knowing that nourishing the body open the county’s seasonal shelters, which ordinarily close April 3. They set up portable can be just as important as protecting it, community members and organizations began bathrooms and hand-washing stations throughout downtown Lancaster and distributed bringing meals to the hospital. small bottles of hand sanitizer and safety information. When churches closed, Koppel found new partners to serve over 200 free meals a day, pivoting to a safer grab-and-go option. “All of a sudden, food donations for our staff members just started showing up. At first, whoever was on hand when it arrived would just take it to their department,” explained With the county’s help, Lanc Co MyHome also arranged for a hotel to house homeless Maggie McIntosh, director of Special Projects at CCH. “We wanted to make sure, people awaiting COVID-19 test results. Meals are provided and rooms are professionally however, that no one was left out.” disinfected upon discharge to a shelter or hospital, depending on the results. Most recently, the coalition opened a day shelter. The solution was a spreadsheet that focused on the units significantly affected by and directly caring for COVID-19 patients. “Our goal was to ensure that they got food every “The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and unemployment are likely to day and sometimes multiple times a day,” she said. “We then included other areas in the put more people at risk for homelessness. This isn’t going to be short-lived,” said Koppel. hospital that may not be as directly involved in the care of these patients but whose roles are just as important.”

To help ensure a constant flow of food to the hospital departments, McIntosh worked with Lisa Finnegan, vice president of the Women’s Auxiliary, to set up a SignUpGenius that was distributed to the community through the hospital’s website, Facebook page, and email.

The response has been nothing shy of remarkable. While people who choose to donate are asked to provide a minimum of 25 individually wrapped meals, some people do as many as 100 and others want to feed the whole hospital. “One day we even had a local pizzeria set up their food truck in our parking lot to feed the entire staff from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” McIntosh said, adding that the hospital’s Gift Shop Manager Brenda Fairchild, and Volunteer Coordinator Carol Dunigan help organize the donations, answer questions, and ensure that meals make it to the units on time.

“These acts of kindness are allowing us to create connections with the people in our community. It’s overwhelming,” McIntosh said, “and we’re so incredibly grateful.”

3 HEROES WORK HERE PENN MEDICINE’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

} Donated supplies at LGH to keep employees safe. } Surgical team at HUP

} A PPMC show of support. } PPMC nurses all donned up! } CCH celebrates as a COVID patient’s is discharged.

} CCH Radiation Oncology Team } A new way to communicate } Bringing some fun to face masks at Princeton Medical Center. in the COVID environment.

} EVS staff at Lancaster General Hospital

} Taking temperatures of all who entered HUP. } Blue Angels flyover in Philadelaphia in recognition of all health care providers.

} Keeping each other safe at Pennsylvania Hospital. EMPLOYEES RISE to the Challenges of a Sudden Switch to Remote Work

With the advent of COVID-19, working from home has taken on new meaning. Indeed, with schools closed, virtual meetings often include kids asking for snacks or help with school work. And family pets frequently make an appearance as well. But employees have quickly adjusted. And behind the scenes, Penn Medicine’s IS staff stepped up quickly to support a whole new infrastructure while employees who have the opportunity to perform their duties at home are discovering new strategies to make it work. KEEP

IS comes through for WFH With changes come challenges and IS just one-on-ones. And she encourages INFORMED Employees has handled that as well. Its Remote staff to turn the video on. “It’s important to ABOUT Reducing the number of employees at Access Command Center, staffed by over see each other. I don’t care what you look work sites across Penn Medicine was an 15 full time engineers and analysts, not like, I just want to see your face,” she said. COVID-19 important safety measure to protect clinical only successfully manages thousands of “You lose that working remotely.” service tickets but also engineers “new staff and others whose work can only Managing home life while working As the novel coronavirus continues to solutions and expansion of our remote be performed on site. A crucial piece of remotely is another important component. spread throughout our region, Penn access capabilities.” making the plan work was ensuring that While every employee has their own unique Medicine clinical leaders remain in close the infrastructure supporting operations contact with the U.S. Centers for Disease Staying Connected and Engaged situations at home, some strategies could could continue remotely. apply to almost any situation. Jen Brady, Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and local public Meeting with coworkers — either as a team MA, RD, associate director of Employee According to Dan Costantino, chief health agencies to ensure the best care for or one-on-one chats — is an important Benefits and Wellness, found four strategies Information Security officer, the Information patients and the health of our communities. Security and IS Infrastructure teams component to staying connected and that help her stay productive while keeping worked tirelessly to create an expanded engaged. But in this new environment, virtual the peace. One: she keeps a daily schedule Employees can find the latest information infrastructure, “capable of supporting up connections have now “revolutionized how for her family to set expectations. Second, and resources through the COVID-19 link on to 15,000 concurrent remote access sessions people can gather for meetings and other she recommends finding a specific place Penn Medicine’s Intranet, under What’s Hot. at any given time,” he said. In addition, events,” said Denise Mariotti, HUP’s chief at home to dedicate to being productive. Those with additional questions or concerns they built a secure remote access portal HR officer. “It has taught us some lessons and (“You can’t sit in the middle of the floor should contact their local infection control which hosts “over 75 Penn Medicine forced us to look differently at how we work.” while kids are running around hitting team or email COVID19questions@ each other with light sabers!”). Brady also pennmedicine.upenn.edu. applications and internal resources while Robin Ward, MS, senior director of maintaining a secure connection from any recommends establishing a cutoff time for Marketing Technology & Analytics, keeps stopping work, and taking breaks. “Get up computer in the country.” her team engaged through video chats — and move around and get some sunshine. with the full team, a smaller group … or It helps improve your mood.”

The Doctor Will See You Now… FROM AFAR A Garden For more than 20 years, James Kearney, MD, has been seeing patients at Pennsylvania Hospital, where he serves as chair of Otorhinolaryngology. He considers his practice a OF HOPE “well-oiled machine,” from the front desk to having the patient exam room ready to the patient intake, and throughout the entire visit. Then came COVID 19 and suddenly As the pandemic tide starts to turn, nearly 1,700 have been discharged from hospitals telemedicine — seeing patients remotely from home — became the new “normal.” throughout Penn Medicine and they’re doing it in style. For example, some patients are leaving units amid cheers, applause, and well wishes from the providers and the staff. At HUP, a clip Kearney is one of hundreds of physicians to quickly adapt to this new way of seeing of “Eye of the Tiger” will play over the hospital’s PA as Princeton Medical Center plays “Here patients. Indeed, since mid-March, there have been more than 300,000 of these virtual Comes the Sun.” And a beautiful “flower garden” at HUP’s main entrance recognizes every visits throughout Penn Medicine. patient who has been discharged and healing at home. While not every condition Kearney treats can receive adequate care via telemedicine, for These celebrations not only recognize how far many of these patients have come since being some conditions, such as sleep apnea or sinusitis, “I can yield a diagnosis 80 percent of admitted but also the efforts of the providers and staff who played essential roles in their journeys. the time just based on taking a history.”

Equally important, patients are very grateful to have this access — all feedback has been uniformly positive. And he finds it gratifying as well. “We have the capacity to provide care — particularly for older, fragile patients who at highest risk — connecting with them but keeping them safe.” The switch, said Kearney, has taken a little time to get used to. But then, he noted wryly, “When the telephone was first invented, people had to learn the etiquette of saying hello when someone called… It takes a while to develop normal patterns.”

Equally important, patients are very grateful to have this access — all feedback

has been uniformly positive.

POWERFUL PHOTOS OF BRAVERY AND HOPE For HUP OR nurse Marc Goldfarb, BSN, RN, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the picture. With OR volumes down, Goldfarb was redeployed across different areas of the hospital, including doing thermal scanning at entrances, and aiding other clinicians as an expert in doffing and donning PPE. As he worked with different people, he began snapping portrait photos of his new colleagues — powerful images of those on the front line of care. He explains, “I didn’t see fear. I saw concern. I didn’t see hopelessness, I saw bravery. I never saw weakness, I saw strength. And more than anything else, I noticed camaraderie. It was my fellow health care workers that inspired me to take these portraits.”

Read more in a Q&A online at PennMedicine.org/systemnews } Daniel Yoshur, MD (left) and Lawrence Wechsler, MD

Leadership Transitions IN NEUROSCIENCES DIFFERENCE MAKERS Effective July 1,Daniel Yoshor, MD, will become chair of Neurosurgery and vice president of Clinical Integration and Innovation for the Health System. He will succeed current Neurosurgery chair Sean Grady, MD, who will continue to serve as physician director of the “What’s your favorite kind of music?” may Neurosciences Service Line. not be a typical question inpatients get Yoshur is currently chair of Neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. There he has served as program director for the its asked, but for physical therapist assistant neurosurgery residency program and as chief of Neurosurgery at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center since 2010. Under his leadership as Sheila Rineer, of Good Shepherd Penn chair, the department rose to No. 3 in the country in National Institutes of Health funding. Partners at Pennsylvania Hospital, this tidbit of information can provide great As a clinical neurosurgeon, Yoshor focuses on endoscopic pituitary and skull base surgery, as well as brain tumor and epilepsy surgery. He motivation to get patients moving… and also has extensive experience in clinical brain mapping and in the development and clinical implementation of novel neuro-technologies. helping them in their recovery.

Lawrence Wechsler, MD, has been named chair of Neurology at Pennsylvania Hospital. He will oversee both inpatient and outpatient Rineer knows that PT isn’t always a neurological services and serve as director of telemedicine and network development department and report to Frances E. Jensen, MD, favorite activity — for some inpatients it chair of Neurology. can be painful or they might be scared of falling. But she finds that music can make a Formerly the chair of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Wechsler founded the University of Pittsburgh big difference. Whether it’s a favorite artist Medical Center (UPMC) Stroke Institute. He was principal investigator for the Pittsburgh regional coordinating center of the National or a Broadway show — one patient loved Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Stroke Trials Network, which was created to streamline and accelerate the “Oklahoma!” — Rineer has found that translation of experimental stroke therapies to clinical application. pulling out her phone and playing a favorite tune not only puts patients at ease but also gets their trust. “Sometimes we even sing together as we’re doing our moves,” IS NATIONAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH she said. AND WELL-BEING MONTH June For Rineer, this type of encouragement results in more than just rehab, though. “Some patients have tragic stories,” she Below are some resources to support your Employee Health and Well-Being Month is a national campaign celebrated during the said. “Just putting a smile on their faces well-being and nurture your growth: month of June and this year’s focus is growth. Given what we’re all experiencing, the theme is enough.” couldn’t be timelier. • WELLFOCUSED: GROWTH SITE The ripple effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has all of us facing totally new and https://sites.google.com/view/ growth2020/home unprecedented circumstances. We are evolving, changing and adapting in ways that we AT PENN MEDICINE, WE ALL never could have imagined for ourselves. And growth is a natural byproduct of change. • PENNMEDICINETOGETHER ASPIRE TO BE DIFFERENCE https://www.med.upenn.edu/ MAKERS REPRESENTING THE As we’ve been sheltering in place, you may have had the time to learn something new, PennMedicineTogether/ PENN MEDICINE EXPERIENCE enhance a skill, or reconnect with someone virtually. This year, focus on growth and flourish (PMX) IN ACTION. with the Wellfocused team and your colleagues. • PENN COBALT https://www.penncobalt.com/ PMX sets a consistent standard across all of our entities and work locations to make every touchpoint an opportunity to build enduring connections with patients, families, visitors, and Three Lessons Learned from COVID-19: colleagues, which is a foundational part Penn Medicine Shapes a “New Normal” From the Pandemic of the UPHS Success Share program. Do you have a Difference Maker on your Virtual care has grown tremendously during express pathway to nurses and doctors schedules, and adapting to new ways of team? If so, let us know! Email the pandemic. In the first week of March, available 24/7. Thousands of patients have supporting our mission. On behalf of the [email protected]. 150 patients were remotely evaluated. Since been monitored since the program began, entire leadership team, thank you for your then, hundreds of thousands of patients and at any one time, one thousand patients dedication, determination, and resilience. have received care through our virtual are being actively monitored. This is a We will continue to scour the world in health network. We have come to value the powerful way technology enabled us to search of personal protective equipment. role of virtual care, and it will continue to provide personalized human connection. Through PennCOBALT, we will also continue be a critical piece of how we provide care SYSTEMNEWS In a matter of weeks, we also launched to provide mental health resources for all of moving forward. several new digital tools in partnership our teams. EDITORIAL STAFF There is no organization more dedicated with Google. The COVID-19 Bot on the Sally Sapega It’s also essential that patients feel safe Editor to its patients and community than Penn PennMedicine.org website helps patients coming in for care. We have instituted Lisa Paxson Medicine. find answers to their questions about the Graphic Designer policies and procedures to minimize waiting outbreak, and the Triage Tool connects 2. We are accelerating the pace of innovation room crowding, contactless check-ins, and people with the appropriate level of care, ADMINISTRATION and new technology, despite being in the communications to reassure them about Patrick Norton whether that’s going to the ER, speaking Vice President, Public Affairs midst of a pandemic. entering our facilities. with a clinician, or staying home. These Holly Auer Associate Vice President, Communications Technology played a crucial role in the rapid tools were deployed rapidly, providing Until research yields an effective vaccine, Rachel Ewing development of solutions to meet the unique patients help in what felt like no time in the the safety measures in effect across our Editorial Director needs of our patients and the community in early days of the pandemic. organization will remain in place. this new era of patient care. The cover story Our team continues to make the seemingly When we stick together, we are an CONTACT SYSTEM NEWS AT: of this month’s System News tells more of Department of Communications impossible, possible, and I couldn’t be more immovable force for good. this story. 3600 Civic Center Boulevard proud. 5th Floor, Suite 500 As we keep moving into a new way to Philadelphia, PA 19104-4310 COVID Watch, a Way to Health program, 3. Last, but never least, the safety of our deliver care, we can’t forget the lessons phone: 215.662.4488 was created as a way to check up on email: [email protected] employees and patients remains our we’ve learned. We must remain committed infected patients twice a day by text number one priority. to our core values established over 265 System News is published monthly for Penn message. Those with minor or no symptoms Medicine employees. Access System News years ago. With our great team, I can’t wait are reassured, while those who are For months, employees have been online at PennMedicine.org/SystemNews. to see what we achieve next. developing shortness of breath have an working in alternate locations, on different

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