Our providers and staff have risen to—and well above—the unprecedented challenges of caring for patients with COVID-19. Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBI) is proud and grateful beyond words for the indomitable spirit and incredible work done by our teams on the front lines.
Staff Salute: NBI Emergency Department frontline staff showed their support for Newark first responders during the Police Officers and Firefighters Heroes Salute on April 8.
Converted Units: NBI had to convert most of its units into COVID-19 units. But by the end of April, a steady decline in new cases and a steady increase in discharges meant it was time to reopen.
Non-COVID Tent: Like so many hospitals across the state, NBI set up a tent outside of its Emergency Department to ensure rapid, appropriate and safe triage of patients who were not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Heroes on Duty: Ki Buom Lee, MD, Internal Medicine; Chaitanya Pal, MD, Internal Medicine; and Okechukwu Okoye, MD, Internal Medicine
That's the Spirit: Respiratory therapists at NBI kept up their spirits, and those of their patients as well.
Daily Huddle: ED staff meet for a “safety huddle” to review staffing, patient issues and any concerns for the upcoming shift—an essential element of the hospital’s response.
Command Center: Matthew Schreiber, MD, Chief Operating Officer in the NBI Command Center, working alongside the crisis team. The Command Center was open 24/7 from March 13 to May 1.
Mobile Health: During the pandemic, RWJBarnabas Health Mobile Health Services have stood ready to provide expert care in any emergency.
Honoring NBI: On April 8, approximately 30 Newark police officers accompanied Chief of Police Darnell Henry and nearly 50 firefighters accompanied Chief of Fire Rufus Jackson in a parade to honor frontline heroes. Newark Beth Israel and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey President and CEO Darrell K. Terry, Sr., joined staff to greet them.
Meeting Needs: Dedicated staff and providers from RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center and Network have been available 24/7 to meet critical needs for patients during the pandemic.
Respiratory Readiness: As COVID-19 patients began to stream in, the Emergency Department developed precautions, including a special area for patients with respiratory symptoms.
Peer Recovery: Certified Peer Recovery Specialists from the RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery offer support to patients with substance use disorders.
To share your thanks or make a donation in support of our health care heroes, visit www.rwjbh.org/heroes.