May 2021
Ambulatory
Center
Outpatient
Boston Medical Center
Boston
,
MA
United States
We have one of the finest examples of nurses from across our organization working side by side doing the single most important work to help get us out of this pandemic.
This team of individuals has been the heart of Covid operations for over 1 year. The Ambulatory Float Pool is a team of staff that includes Medical Assistants, ASRs, and Nurses. In March of 2020, when Massachusetts "shut down" in response to the SARs virus, BMC started its first ILI clinic in the Shapiro Lobby. As most of the ambulatory clinics were closed, physicians and APPs were re-deployed to this work. We had pediatric physicians caring for adults and vice versa adult GIM providers triaging children. The anxiety was very high both by providers but also by our patients and the entire BMC community. Supplies and testing were limited, so 1 testing mistake could impact the next patient not having a test available. It was at that time the decision was made that the Ambulatory Float Pool became the consistent staffing model for Covid clinic operations. Over the past year, this group of individuals has tested and triaged not 100s but 1000s of patients and staff for Covid. Our nursing team grew from < 5 nurses to a group of 100s. The thing about this team is that they are an amazing collaboration of staff and nurses who have come together from all different units within BMC. Yes, we have our core of the beautiful Ambulatory Float Pool team who have day in and day out staffed and managed ILI, ED ILI, Employee Testing, 710 Testing, the inpatient and outpatient Covid pagers. In addition, we have our Working Well team where nurses picking up hours from the ED work with a nurse from the float pool. They staff the program 7 days per week so they can provide our staff and providers with results and counseling ASAP. We have nurses from outpatient and inpatient who worked with us on the patient result pools during the surges. Again staffing 24/7.
Then came the Covid Vaccine Clinics. We took nothing and in a few weeks, we became a fully functional vaccine site, where each day 1000s of staff, providers, and community members are vaccinated. If you walk into 85 E Concord, our largest site, we have one of the finest examples of nurses from across our organization working side by side doing the single most important work to help get us out of this pandemic. These are nurses who did not know each other or know about their specialty, all working in partnership as 1 team with 1 mission! This is being led by incredible Nurse Team Leads.
At 85 E Concord, we have Corie Alphonse Courville, who took a reassignment from pediatric inpatient to be our Charge Nurse. I am sure 6 months ago this would have never ever been a little thought in her mind. However, how fortunate am I to have this incredibly talented and experienced nurse who stood up and did it so graciously.
In addition to Corie, we have 2 other nurse team leads Chimere McBrayer and Alexis Chlodniki who have gone above and beyond to stand up and manage our 2 other vaccine clinics at BMC. An example of how compassionate and engaging these individuals are - these incredible women have been role models to our vaccine sites at the Community Centers. They have worked as team leads on weekends, they have mentored staff at these sites. For them, the patient is always first!
Let me be clear, Covid operations is much bigger than the float team. It really has taken a "village". EPIC team, led by Rebecca M to set up new departments and documentation workflows to make our work go well. IT equipment deployment lead by Chris H. We want to expand our number of workstations so we can add more patients to the schedules - no problem - equipment is delivered and set up in a day. Public Safety, led by Connie P who is continuously stepping in to assist our Screeners who have the worst job on campus - telling individuals, "sorry" you are not allowed in today. Facilities, led by Nancy H - taking storage rooms or a former restaurant, overrun with supplies, equipment, and other "things" - turning them into a really functional vaccine or ILI clinics. And don't forget the sheds and signage, signage, signage. EPIC security team, most often Tyler P, who just about every day receives an urgent email or page to update someone's EPIC role so they can cover an ILI or vaccine clinic... now! Lab Services, let by Chris A, who processes our many, many tests every day and doesn't blink when we have another "stat" test needed. Supply Chain who make sure we get the supplies and PPE, so important to keep our team safe. There have been managers, directors, department chairs, and VPs from across the organization who have kept us going day to day by advocating and representing us within BMC but also at State and Federal levels, to ensure we have all resources needed for this critical work.
For this moment and this nomination, I want to take the time to recognize our Ambulatory Float Team and all our Ad Hoc Nursing Team Members who have kept us going throughout this crisis. A team of individuals and nurses who are committed to being here with our BMC community of patients, providers, and staff until we see the end of Covid-19. 1 Team 1 Mission!
Then came the Covid Vaccine Clinics. We took nothing and in a few weeks, we became a fully functional vaccine site, where each day 1000s of staff, providers, and community members are vaccinated. If you walk into 85 E Concord, our largest site, we have one of the finest examples of nurses from across our organization working side by side doing the single most important work to help get us out of this pandemic. These are nurses who did not know each other or know about their specialty, all working in partnership as 1 team with 1 mission! This is being led by incredible Nurse Team Leads.
At 85 E Concord, we have Corie Alphonse Courville, who took a reassignment from pediatric inpatient to be our Charge Nurse. I am sure 6 months ago this would have never ever been a little thought in her mind. However, how fortunate am I to have this incredibly talented and experienced nurse who stood up and did it so graciously.
In addition to Corie, we have 2 other nurse team leads Chimere McBrayer and Alexis Chlodniki who have gone above and beyond to stand up and manage our 2 other vaccine clinics at BMC. An example of how compassionate and engaging these individuals are - these incredible women have been role models to our vaccine sites at the Community Centers. They have worked as team leads on weekends, they have mentored staff at these sites. For them, the patient is always first!
Let me be clear, Covid operations is much bigger than the float team. It really has taken a "village". EPIC team, led by Rebecca M to set up new departments and documentation workflows to make our work go well. IT equipment deployment lead by Chris H. We want to expand our number of workstations so we can add more patients to the schedules - no problem - equipment is delivered and set up in a day. Public Safety, led by Connie P who is continuously stepping in to assist our Screeners who have the worst job on campus - telling individuals, "sorry" you are not allowed in today. Facilities, led by Nancy H - taking storage rooms or a former restaurant, overrun with supplies, equipment, and other "things" - turning them into a really functional vaccine or ILI clinics. And don't forget the sheds and signage, signage, signage. EPIC security team, most often Tyler P, who just about every day receives an urgent email or page to update someone's EPIC role so they can cover an ILI or vaccine clinic... now! Lab Services, let by Chris A, who processes our many, many tests every day and doesn't blink when we have another "stat" test needed. Supply Chain who make sure we get the supplies and PPE, so important to keep our team safe. There have been managers, directors, department chairs, and VPs from across the organization who have kept us going day to day by advocating and representing us within BMC but also at State and Federal levels, to ensure we have all resources needed for this critical work.
For this moment and this nomination, I want to take the time to recognize our Ambulatory Float Team and all our Ad Hoc Nursing Team Members who have kept us going throughout this crisis. A team of individuals and nurses who are committed to being here with our BMC community of patients, providers, and staff until we see the end of Covid-19. 1 Team 1 Mission!