CLICK TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WITH CEO KELLY JEFFERSON
Escanaba’s OSF St. Francis Hospital closed its clinics and non-essential services on Monday, while trying at the same time to keep vital emergency services operating.
Hospital CEO Kelly Jefferson tells RRN News that the blizzard caused major safety concerns.
“We always wait to see what’s going to happen with the weather before we cancel services,” Jefferson said. “We recognize that health care services are very important, and when we woke up this morning and saw the Winter Wonderland, we did end up closing our medical office building and our clinics.”
Things like the walk-in clinic and emergency room remained open despite the 13 inches of snow that the National Weather Service reported fell in Escanaba, snow that was accompanied by very high winds that caused blowing and drifting, making roads extremely difficult to navigate Monday morning.
The walk-in clinic was open for part of the day, but closed early. But the Ambulatory Care Unit, Oncology Clinic, and all hospital in-patient services continued as usual.
“We don’t have the luxury of completely closing our doors,” Jefferson said. “We have to be here to provide the vital services that the community needs.”
The blizzard also left many staff members stranded and unable to get to work, so Jefferson says the staff pulled together.
“We opened what we call an Incident Command Center, just to make sure we had a leadership huddle to see where we were, and where we needed staffing,” Jefferson said. “We had a member of our leadership team, Lacey Crabb, who was out this morning picking up people who needed a ride. She went and got a few.”
“They all did what was needed until people could get to work. We had a few people who went to pick up co-workers who did not have four-wheel drive. Really, just a rallying of the team to make sure that we’re here to serve all those who are in need.”
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