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American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Recognizes Huntington Hospital’s Critical Care Unit with Silver Beacon Award for Excellence

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American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Recognizes Huntington Hospital’s Critical Care Unit with Silver Beacon Award for Excellence

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), Aliso Viejo, California, recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence in critical care at Huntington Hospital, Pasadena.

The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with a gold, silver or bronze designation meet national criteria consistent with Magnet® Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

“We are honored to receive the silver Beacon Award from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, recognizing the excellent care by the staff of our intensive care unit for our most critically ill patients,” says Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Hospital. “Our critical care nurses, physicians and employees are extremely dedicated caregivers. Every day, they continue to deliver exceptionally safe and compassionate care to patients on their unit with kindness and dignity, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

AACN President Megan Brunson, MSN, RN, CNL, CCRN-CSC, applauds the commitment of the caregivers the critical care unit atHuntington Hospital for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence. These dedicated healthcare professionals join other members of our exceptional community of nurses, who set the standard for optimal patient care.

“Receiving a Beacon Award for Excellence demonstrates a team’s commitment to providing safe, patient-centered and evidence-based care to patients and families. Creating healthy and supportive work environments empowers nurses and other team members to make their optimal contribution,” Brunson explained. “Achieving this award is such an honor and brings such joy to those who have worked so hard to achieve excellence in patient care and positive patient outcomes,” Brunson added.

The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned byHuntington Hospital’s critical care unit signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders. The unit has evaluation and improvement strategies in place and good performance measures when compared to relevant benchmarks. Huntington Hospital’s critical care unit earned its silver award by meeting the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:

  • Leadership Structures and Systems
  • Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement
  • Effective Communication, Knowledge Management and Learning and Development
  • Evidence-Based Practice and Processes
  • Outcome Measurement

The other Beacon Award designations are gold and bronze. Gold-level awardees demonstrate an effective and systematic approach to policies, procedures and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders; fact-based evaluation strategies for continuous process improvement; and performance measures that meet or exceed relevant benchmarks. Recipients who earn a bronze-level award are beginning the journey to excellence, which includes developing systematic policies, processes and procedures; identifying opportunities for staff participation; and recognizing the need to develop cycles of evaluation and improvement.

AACN honors Huntington Hospital’s critical care unit and other Beacon Award for Excellence recipients with announcements in AACN Bold Voices, the monthly award-winning member magazine distributed to more than 100,000 acute and critical care nurses nationwide. AACN also honors awardees at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families.

About the Beacon Award for Excellence

Established in 2003, the Beacon Award for Excellence offers a road map to help guide exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall patient satisfaction. U.S. and Canadian units where patients receive their principal nursing care after hospital admission qualify for this excellence award. Units that receive the Beacon Award for Excellence meet criteria in six categories: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, and learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement. To learn more, visit www.aacn.org/beacon or call 800-899-2226.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, California, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN represents the interests of more than half a million acute and critical care nurses and includes more than 200 chapters in the United States. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. To learn more about AACN, visit www.aacn.org, connect with the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aacnface or follow AACN on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aacnme.

A message from Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Hospital

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A message from Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Hospital

To our valued patients, friends, colleagues, partners, and community members:

Given all that our community – and state, nation and world – has been through over the past couple of months, I wanted to share some of the remarkable stories about Huntington and our greater community that have emerged from everyone’s heroic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I also want to highlight some of what we are planning in the future. While this pandemic continues to impact the hospital, the health of our community and our daily lives, I want to assure everyone that Huntington Hospital is well prepared to serve all of you safely through these challenging times.

Our Grateful Community Provides Donations and Support

At the start of the outbreak, we asked everyone in our community to help do their part to flatten the curve by staying home, social distancing and maintaining hygienic practices. In addition to taking these important steps, our community came together to help by donating masks and other critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as well as critical funding for the purchase of PPE. These remarkable donations allowed our caregivers to continue treating our patients safely.

I’m happy to share that, thanks in part to your generosity, we have an adequate supply of masks for all who enter our hospital, including N-masks for anyone providing patient care – protecting them, our patients and our greater community. The tremendous response from the community in the face of this unprecedented health crisis shows that our community is resilient, compassionate, and most of all—strongest when we work together.

Our Hospital Maintains PPE and Infection Prevention Protocols

While there are some positive signs, the challenge from this pandemic is far from over. We remain prepared for a potential surge. Our dedicated physicians have stepped up so that they can be called on for additional support should we need it. Your ongoing donations of PPE – which have been nothing short of miraculous – are greatly appreciated to ensure we can maintain our supplies in a time of great shortages while this pandemic continues.  

The hospital’s partnership with the City of Pasadena also ensures we can respond quickly. As our world is still learning about immunity, re-infection, and other aspects of the virus, we continue to take steps to preserve PPE and other critical resources. The hospital and our caregivers remain vigilant. We continue to maintain the highest standards of infection prevention protocols, including screening everyone before entering the hospital and continuing to limit visitors with very few exceptions.

We Continue to Offer Urgent Care—Please Do Not Delay Emergency Care

I want you to know that we are constantly reviewing visitation policies. We will update them as the situation evolves. Please be sure to check our website – www.huntingtonhospital.org – for the latest policy updates. It is my hope that we will be able to moderate these necessary restrictions in the very near future. All of us at Huntington know how important it is to be close to loved ones in times of need.

We also want you to know that the Emergency Department remains open and ready to serve those experiencing health emergencies. Please, do not delay emergency care. We know how vital it is to provide needed care to all patients who are in need. 

As an integral part of our ongoing treatment efforts, we have telehealth options with Exer Urgent Care and primary care through Huntington Health Physicians (HHP). You can find out more information under the FAQ portion of our COVID webpage.

The Hospital Resumes Crucial Elective Surgeries

I am very happy to share with you that we recently began preparations for the resumption of some elective surgeries and other procedures. We are carefully and thoughtfully following guidelines from the American College of Surgeons so that we can resume the elective surgeries that can no longer be delayed, such as heart and cancer-related surgeries. 

Expanded Testing Capabilities Include Antibody Testing

Huntington Hospital’s COVID-19 testing capabilities have expanded to include in-house and outsource lab testing, despite that fact that certain testing supplies remain limited. We are now providing antibody testing for those who think or know they had COVID-19 and are completely recovered—you must wait a minimum of 10 days after being symptom free to test for antibodies.

It’s Time to Celebrate Hospital Week

Finally, in appreciation for all of our caregivers who have displayed tremendous courage and commitment in the face of this health crisis, we are celebrating Nurses and Hospital Week during the first two weeks May. We are grateful for the outpouring of notes, comments, photos and videos our community members have sent honoring our caregivers—these messages show our Huntington Heroes how much they’re appreciated during this difficult time. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to share your messages for our hardworking doctors, nurses and support staff here: http://hh.zovida.com/upload. (Please note that by uploading a photo or video, you’re giving us full rights to use it.) 

Together with each of you in our community, Huntington Hospital will continue to combat this pandemic. We look forward to the day when we can thank each of you in person for your role in keeping our community safe. Until that time, please stay safe and stay healthy, and know that we are here for you.

Sincerely,

Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Hospital

Morgan Md signature

Huntington Hospital Nationally Recognized with an “A” for the Spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

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Huntington Hospital Nationally Recognized with an “A” for the Spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Huntington Hospital was awarded an ‘A’in the spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing the hospital’s achievements providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety Grade is a letter grade assigned to all general hospitals across the country and updated every six months, assessing how well the hospital prevents medical errors and other harms to patients.

“I’m incredibly proud to share this achievement with our community,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Huntington Hospital. “Our amazing caregivers and employees have been providing tireless, excellent care to our patients not only during the COVID-19 pandemic, but throughout the year. This designation exemplifies our hard work and commitment to safety for every individual that walks through our doors.”

Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

“As the Nation copes with a challenging pandemic, our gratitude extends to hospital leadership and health care workers everywhere for their tremendous dedication,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We hope this ‘A’ helps to thank the people who work and volunteer for Huntington Hospital. They are role models in putting patients first, and their service has been extraordinary in our country’s time of need.”

Huntington Hospital was awarded an ‘A’ grade today, when Leapfrog updated grades for spring 2020. To see Huntington Hospital’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

Huntington Hospital Names Caroline Balfour, Vice President, Revenue Cycle

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Huntington Hospital Names Caroline Balfour, Vice President, Revenue Cycle
Caroline Balfour headshot

Huntington Hospital is pleased to announce that Caroline (Cari) Balfour will be joining as Vice President of Revenue Cycle. Balfour is an experienced and transformational leader who brings a demonstrated track record of innovative process improvement and staff development initiatives that support fundamental and meaningful impact across organizations.

“Cari brings extensive experience improving not just revenue cycle operations, but also staying at the forefront of evolving business models, utilizing cutting-edge technology and improving the patient experience,” says Steven Mohr, CPA, MBA, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Huntington Hospital. “We look forward to seeing the impact of her ongoing process improvements in support of our focus on delivering quality, service, and cutting-edge care.”

Balfour is joining Huntington Hospital from KPC Health, where she was Corporate Vice President, Revenue Cycle Services for the seven-hospital health system.

She has a Master’s in Healthcare Administration, a Bachelor’s in Business Management and she is a certified Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma. Balfour is a member of the American College of Healthcare Administrators, and she is a former President of the Orange County Claims Associations. She also spent two years as chair of the California Hospital Association, Payor Relations Committee working with other California Hospitals to forge improved relationships with both Government and Non-Government payors.

Huntington Hospital Receives Donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from Guardians of Angeles

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Huntington Hospital Receives Donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from Guardians of Angeles

NOTE: COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation. Check our COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.

Donation includes 60,000 surgical masks and 200 isolation gowns to assist the hospitals’ efforts to fight COVID-19.

On April 7, Huntington Hospital received a donation of 60,000 Level III surgical masks and 200 isolation gowns from Guardians of the Angeles Charitable Foundation (GoA), a charitable organization committed to providing financial relief and supplies to hospitals and caregivers around the world.

“This is the largest donation from our organization to any hospital in California to date,” said June Tan, Executive Director and founding board member, Guardians of the Angeles.

The personal protective equipment (PPE) donated to Huntington Hospital will help prepare and protect the hospital’s frontline caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the generosity of Guardians of the Angeles for their donation of personal protective equipment to our hospital,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Hospital. “As a non-profit hospital, we rely on our community for donations, large and small, to help us fight this global pandemic. These medical supplies give our inventory a big boost to help protect our physicians, nurses and employees as we care for and treat our COVID-19 patients.”

Huntington Hospital would also like to extend thanks to Mr. Li Lu, philanthropist and businessman, Skye Xu, founding board member, Guardians of the Angeles, George Matsuda, MD and Jeff Denham, MD, who were all instrumental in connecting Guardians of the Angeles with Huntington Hospital. The hospital is also grateful for Polar Air Cargo and Vizion/LAX, who provided international transportation support, at no cost, for the shipment of these supplies.

Guardians of the Angeles, which is chaired by Mr. Li Lu, was founded in early 2020 amid the global outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, with a mission to support the most vulnerable—the healthcare professionals, first responders, all those safeguarding our community in combating COVID-19. A coalition of global volunteers and charitable donors, GoA started its charitable endeavors offering direct financial relief and medical supply to hospitals, healthcare workers and their families in Wuhan, China where the outbreak first occurred.

GoA has since pivoted its resources toward donating PPE to US hospitals and communities facing severe PPE shortages. To find more information about Guardians of the Angeles, please go to https://goa-foundation.org.

To learn more about how to help Huntington Hospital during this time, please go to: www.huntingtonhospital.org/helphuntington.

Providing Access to Care Outside of the Hospital during COVID-19

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Providing Access to Care Outside of the Hospital during COVID-19

NOTE: COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation. Check our COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.

Huntington Health Physicians and Exer Urgent Care Now Offering Telehealth for Patients

Huntington Health Physicians (HHP) is now offering Telehealth services to provide our community access to quality healthcare from the convenience and safety of their homes. The hospital is working around the clock to ensure our patients continue to receive excellent care.

“Telehealth services are more crucial than ever as we all work together to flatten the curve and combat this pandemic. It is critical for the members of our community to help hospitals like Huntington Hospital by staying home and self-isolating,” said Timothy S. E. Albert, MD, MHCM, CEO and Executive Medical Director of Huntington Health Physicians. “I’m proud our physicians can continue to connect with and care for our patients to keep them safe and healthy during this unprecedented time through HHP’s Telehealth program.”

With easy setup, a private and secure connection, and coverage by most major insurances, including Medicare and Medicare Advantage, HHP Telehealth is a simple and convenient option to stay connected and receive the care you need.

For more details, call your Huntington Health Physician’s office or visit our website at www.huntingtonhospital.org/hhptelehealth.

While HHP physicians are offering this service to all current patients, they are also opening their schedules to new patients, though availability may be limited. If you do not already have a primary physician, please call them at (626) 397-8368 to speak with their staff for a referral to a physician currently accepting new patients. View their locations at www.huntingtonhospital.org/hhplocations to determine the most convenient office for you.

Additionally, Huntington Hospital has an affiliation with Exer Urgent Care Pasadena to support access to care when community members can’t wait to see their primary care doctor but aren’t in need of emergency care. Exer Urgent Care has two options to support the community during this time.

First, it has announced the launch of VirtualCare by Exer, an online urgent care service providing real-time access to a doctor via video chat with a smartphone, tablet, or computer.  VirtualCare is an extension of Exer’s patient access options and accepts the same insurance and payment options as Exer clinics including most PPOs, most HMOs, and Medicare.  VirtualCare by Exer is available 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with the last patient seen at 8:30 p.m. Symptoms that can be treated through this new platform include cold and flu, nose and throat, respiratory, eye, skin, gastrointestinal, UTI’s and other ailments. Exer physicians are able to screen patients for COVID-19 via VirtualCare by asking questions about risk factors and based on information provided, can determine if testing is needed or give other instructions based on symptoms. To learn more, go to VirtualCare by Exer.

For patients who need an in-person visit Exer offers COVID-19 testing, x-rays, lab work and other services that can’t be performed over a video call. Visit Exer Urgent Care for more information.

About Huntington Health Physicians

Huntington Health Physicians (HHP) was initially formed in 1995 as Huntington Foundation Medical Group. In recent years, the physician enterprise has grown and evolved into a multispecialty network of 83 physicians with eight delivery sites throughout the San Gabriel Valley. For more information, please visit: www.huntingtonhealthphysicians.org

About Exer Urgent Care

With 16 Southern California locations, Exer Urgent Care is staffed with ER doctors who provide premier medical services in a clean, convenient, high-quality and affordable urgent care environment to a growing number of communities throughout Southern California. With on-site pharmacy, lab, x-ray and more Exer can treat 80 percent of the cases seen in an ER for a fraction of the cost. VirtualCare by Exer provides patients real-time access to a doctor with no appointment necessary via video chat with a smartphone, tablet, or computer. For more information on Exer Urgent Care, visit ExerUrgentCare.com.

How the Community Can Help Huntington Hospital

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How the Community Can Help Huntington Hospital

NOTE: COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation. Check our COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.

Donations support our healthcare providers access to critical supplies.

We are grateful for the offers of assistance that have poured in since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’d like to help support our healthcare providers at Huntington Hospital and community, please review the various options below:

Donate medical supplies

We are now accepting donations of critical medical supplies from the community such as:

  • Masks (unused, unexpired medical masks, all kinds) – we are not accepting homemade masks at this time
  • Medical gloves (unopened, unused boxes only)
  • Paper medical gowns (unopened)
  • Hand sanitizer (unopened, unexpired only)
  • Disinfecting wipes (unopened, unused)

At this time, the hospital is only accepting the items listed above. If this changes in the future, we will update the above list accordingly.

Donation drop off location

Your generous donations support Huntington Hospital healthcare providers access critical supplies. You can drop off pre-approved medical supplies to our donation collection center: Huntington Collection, 766 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena (parking lot access off Fillmore), Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you live out of the area or are unable to drop off at the donation center, you can donate any of the above supplies via a shipment. Please email [email protected], and we will create a shipping label that will be emailed to you.

Donate blood

Huntington Hospital is experiencing a severe blood shortage, and we need your help.

We have created an offsite location for community blood donors at 800 S. Fairmount Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105. The parking entrance is at 28 Bellefontaine Street, and parking will be validated. Blood donation hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to

4:30 p.m. and Friday – 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Please visit this website for more information: www.huntingtonhospital.org/donateblood

 Make a financial gift

As a non-profit hospital, we rely on gifts made, especially during this challenging time.

Your gift doesn’t just help us provide care to every patient, it also says “Thank You” to the healthcare providers who are working around the clock to keep us all safe. For more information, please go to: https://www.huntingtonhealth.org/in-the-news/how-the-community-can-help-huntington-hospital/

Open Letter to the Community

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Open Letter to the Community

NOTE: COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation. Check our COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.

An open letter to our community as we address the challenges of the COVID-19 situation.

Infobox answering the question What to do if you suspect you have COVID-19

To our valued patients, friends, colleagues, partners, and community members:

Even as the spread of COVID-19 impacts the health of our community and upends our daily living, we want to assure everyone that Huntington Hospital remains committed to the mission and purpose that has guided us for more than 128 years: to provide excellent health care and compassionate service to each patient entrusted to our care. As it should be, our main focus is caring for our patients and community in this unprecedented health crisis.

What Huntington Hospital is doing to protect the Community…

Huntington Hospital is doing everything it can to ensure the finest care for all its current and future COVID-19 patients. Our highly skilled medical professionals are following all the right processes and procedures to help protect those most in need. Importantly, we are preserving limited supplies of essential medical resources and taking steps to increase hospital bed capacity for COVID-19 patients. We are also focusing first on those patients most severely and seriously in need right now.

In addition, Huntington Hospital has a well-defined process in place to ensure the health and safety of everyone who enters our hospital in the face of communicable diseases, which reflects medical best practices and necessary precautions.

Here are some of the things we’ve done so far:

  • We have cancelled all elective surgeries. This reduces the risk of transmission for all patients and staff, helps preserve finite hospital supplies and ensures hospital care is reserved for those who are in the most critical condition.
  • We have temporarily limited visitors to the hospital to minimize potential exposure to Huntington’s frontline healthcare workers. Their good health is essential if we are to continue treating patients. 
  • We have also suspended all volunteering activities and classes, required non-essential employees to work from home, and we are now offering free online educational resources to expecting mothers.

…and what you can do to protect the Community.

Even as we work around the clock to care for the sick inside the hospital, you can help prevent the spread of the virus in our community. Practice social distancing, maintain hygienic practices, and adhere to local health department recommendations.

And importantly, we kindly request that you do not come to the hospital if you are healthy or do not require emergency care.

We also request that those who are able consider donating blood in order to help alleviate the critical blood shortages nationwide. Huntington Hospital has temporarily moved its usual blood donation program to an off-campus location to balance our essential visitor restrictions with the need for critical blood supplies. Our blood donation center will support donor health and safety by enforcing appropriate social distancing and through robust disinfecting and sanitation practices.

Even as we each do our parts to social distance and remain isolated, we must remember the community that we are all fighting to protect. Together with each of you in our community, Huntington Hospital will continue to combat this pandemic. We are counting on you to help contain the spread of this virus while we work to care for those most at-risk patients.

We look forward to the day when we can thank you in person for your role in keeping our community safe. Until that time, please stay safe and stay healthy, and know that we are here for you.

Sincerely,

Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Hospital

Morgan Signature MD, MBA

Huntington Hospital Cancels Elective Surgeries, Group Activities and Limits Visitors

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Huntington Hospital Cancels Elective Surgeries, Group Activities and Limits Visitors

NOTE: COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation. Check our COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.

Medically necessary surgical procedures will continue

Surgical patients can call the Surgical Cancellations line at (626) 397-3166 with any questions.

The Surgeon General of the United States and the American College of Surgeons have advised hospitals to cancel all elective surgeries in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. As a result, Huntington Hospital began an immediate review of scheduled elective surgery cases to evaluate which can be delayed for two weeks, four weeks and three months. For clinically urgent services, such as cancer or cardiac cases, the hospital will consider each on a case-by-case basis.

“Please know that we very much understand that this presents hardships for our patients, our physicians and for the hospital. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution, because we are committed to the health and safety of our patients and our community,” said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO. 

Cancellations at both the hospital and Huntington Ambulatory Surgery Center began Monday, March 16. Affected patients are being contacted by the hospital if their procedure is among those to be cancelled. If a patient has a question about their specific procedure, they should call their surgeon’s office.

Policy Decision to Help Reserve Critical Hospital Resources, Meet Most Immediate and Urgent Health Care Needs

Huntington Hospital’s decision helps preserve hospital supplies, which have been strained since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Many supplies are made in China and demand is at this time substantially outpacing supply. The move is also expected to help ensure hospital care is reserved for those who are in the most critical condition. Further, not only is admitting a healthy patient for an elective surgical procedure an unnecessary risk to that patient during a pandemic, it also brings more people to the hospital and potentially exposes healthcare workers to illness.

“We treat each patient with compassion and dignity. On behalf of the entire Huntington team I’d like to personally urge everyone in the community to come together and to avoid stigmatizing anyone who has tested positive for this virus,” says Dr. Morgan.  “As caregivers, many of us have had experience with infectious diseases, such as MERS and SARS. In all situations involving communicable diseases, we have a defined process in place to help ensure the health and safety of our patients, physicians, nurses, employees and volunteers, which reflects best practices and necessary precautions. This process has previously been successful in slowing or preventing the spread of such diseases.”

Additional Precautions to Protect Patients, Employees, and the Community

Huntington Hospital has also temporarily restricted visitors to the hospital to minimize exposure to its frontline healthcare workers, whose ongoing good health is essential to dealing with this pandemic. The only individuals permitted to visit the hospital until further notice include:

  • One healthy parent at a time for pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit patients;
  • One healthy birth partner for labor, delivery, postpartum and recovery units;
  • One healthy visitor for all patients having medically necessary procedures, medically necessary out-patient surgery, GI lab, radiology, catheterization lab;
  • One healthy visitor for all emergency department patients; and
  • One healthy visitor for patients who lack the capacity/competence or the DPOA would fall under the special exception.

Exceptions to this policy may be made for those patients receiving end-of-life care or who have extraordinary circumstances, in which case the nursing team will make the determination. Any visitor who fits the above exceptions but exhibits signs and symptoms of illness may not visit the hospital.

All hospital classes, tours and large group events have also been cancelled and Huntington Hospital’s gift shop and Huntington Collection are also closed at this time.

Most people do not need to come to the hospital if they suspect they have COVID-19. The hospital should be the last line of treatment at this time. If someone is experiencing symptoms that include a fever, dry cough and body aches, they should call their physician who will advise next steps. For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.huntingtonhospital.org/COVID19 and continue to review resources provided by the CDC and other trusted health authorities.

A message from Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Hospital

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A message from Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Hospital

NOTE: COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation. Check our COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.

As the leader in creating community well-being, we are dedicated to remaining a trusted source of information for you and your family as the new coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts our local communities.

New viruses cause uncertainty, and even fear. As the tested resource for our community during previous infectious diseases (MERS, SARS, H1N1 for examples), we are prepared to respond to this novel virus with our partners at Pasadena Public Health and our medical community.

Your health is our priority. We have the necessary precautions in place to protect our patients, physicians and employees. We have a highly skilled team of infectious disease specialists with experience treating new and emerging diseases. Our executive and leadership teams are in close daily contact with public health authorities to remain at the ready.

How can you get ready? You can begin by staying calm and learning more from fact-based resources about what you do to keep yourself, your loved ones and your community safe.

The availability of testing remains limited though it is evolving quickly, should you have concerns we ask that you please contact your physician and allow them to direct next steps. We stand ready to care for those patients that need hospital level intervention.  We are ready to assist with support should public testing be necessary as determined by public health authorities.

Huntington Hospital is standing by to provide excellent, compassionate care to our community. Thank you for allowing us to be your partner in health.

Sincerely,

Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Huntington Hospital

Morgan Signature MD, MBA