Message from St. Francis CEO Robert J. Brody
A Word about the Recent Flooding
The recent flooding in south-central Indiana has affected a number of our St. Francis employee family members and their loved ones. Many residents all across the south-central area of the state face significant challenges and loss. Our prayers for strength, hope and faith go out to all who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.
The Need
Many of you have asked what you can do to help co-workers and others as well. Administration and other hospital representatives are talking with the Red Cross and other agencies to determine how we can best offer assistance. We will be sending out information on how we can help our St. Francis family members in the next few days. Please check CROSS and look for posters and flyers in your areas for more information.
The recent flooding in south-central Indiana has affected a number of our St. Francis employee family members and their loved ones. Many residents all across the south-central area of the state face significant challenges and loss. Our prayers for strength, hope and faith go out to all who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.
The Need
Many of you have asked what you can do to help co-workers and others as well. Administration and other hospital representatives are talking with the Red Cross and other agencies to determine how we can best offer assistance. We will be sending out information on how we can help our St. Francis family members in the next few days. Please check CROSS and look for posters and flyers in your areas for more information.
As we prepare to help those among us who are struggling, we also are rallying our support for one of the hardest hit areas, Columbus, Indiana – specifically, Columbus Regional Hospital, its patients, physicians, nurses and other staff.
The town of Columbus and Columbus Regional Hospital have endured devastating flood damage. The hospital was seriously affected, taking in water to the basement and the first floor. The basement housed vital services such as lab, imaging, pharmacy, plant operations and information technology systems. The building and equipment sustained dramatic damage and repairs may take months – and the hospital is now closed.
A few days after the Columbus flood, I toured the hospital with CEO Jim Bickel and personally offered the assistance and support of St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. Jim and his staff are very appreciative for the help rendered thus far, and he asked me to convey to you his gratitude for your hard work, contributions and prayers for those affected by the disaster.
It is amazing they were able to move patients and staff from the facility without suffering injuries or fatalities. The water filled the basement to the ceiling leaving an incredible mess. Jim described it as being knee-deep in “French onion soup.”
The town of Columbus and Columbus Regional Hospital have endured devastating flood damage. The hospital was seriously affected, taking in water to the basement and the first floor. The basement housed vital services such as lab, imaging, pharmacy, plant operations and information technology systems. The building and equipment sustained dramatic damage and repairs may take months – and the hospital is now closed.
A few days after the Columbus flood, I toured the hospital with CEO Jim Bickel and personally offered the assistance and support of St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. Jim and his staff are very appreciative for the help rendered thus far, and he asked me to convey to you his gratitude for your hard work, contributions and prayers for those affected by the disaster.
It is amazing they were able to move patients and staff from the facility without suffering injuries or fatalities. The water filled the basement to the ceiling leaving an incredible mess. Jim described it as being knee-deep in “French onion soup.”
Sharing Our Hospital Home
Now we need to show how much we care for others as we always have in times of hardshi0 – opening our doors and our hearts to those in need.
As you might imagine when the flood occurred, there were mothers approaching the time for their labor and delivery, men and women in active radiation therapy for cancer, patients of all ages awaiting diagnostic imaging and surgery and more. Today, an Indiana town, suffering from the effects of the largest flood in recorded Indiana history, is without the comfort and care of its hospital and its dedicated team. We can help.
Patients from the Columbus area will continue to require care and their physicians and nurses of Columbus Regional Hospital will need a place to provide that care for patients. St. Francis Hospital and other Indiana hospitals are reaching out help.
We are working with Columbus Regional Hospital physicians to help them with temporary plans to provide patient care here at St. Francis. Several patients from the Columbus area will be treated here by Columbus Regional Hospital physicians and other clinical personnel throughout our hospital. Your warm and caring welcome and offers of help as they learn how to use our systems and facility resources will be sincerely appreciated: It is our mission in motion.
Welcoming Our Guests
Temporary privileges have been granted to several physicians including seven obstetricians who began delivering babies at St. Francis-Indianapolis today. Pediatricians, general surgeons, radiation oncologists and cardiologists have been granted temporary privileges and more may come onboard soon.
Now we need to show how much we care for others as we always have in times of hardshi0 – opening our doors and our hearts to those in need.
As you might imagine when the flood occurred, there were mothers approaching the time for their labor and delivery, men and women in active radiation therapy for cancer, patients of all ages awaiting diagnostic imaging and surgery and more. Today, an Indiana town, suffering from the effects of the largest flood in recorded Indiana history, is without the comfort and care of its hospital and its dedicated team. We can help.
Patients from the Columbus area will continue to require care and their physicians and nurses of Columbus Regional Hospital will need a place to provide that care for patients. St. Francis Hospital and other Indiana hospitals are reaching out help.
We are working with Columbus Regional Hospital physicians to help them with temporary plans to provide patient care here at St. Francis. Several patients from the Columbus area will be treated here by Columbus Regional Hospital physicians and other clinical personnel throughout our hospital. Your warm and caring welcome and offers of help as they learn how to use our systems and facility resources will be sincerely appreciated: It is our mission in motion.
Welcoming Our Guests
Temporary privileges have been granted to several physicians including seven obstetricians who began delivering babies at St. Francis-Indianapolis today. Pediatricians, general surgeons, radiation oncologists and cardiologists have been granted temporary privileges and more may come onboard soon.
The same is true for Columbus Regional Hospital employees. With the arrival of more patients comes the need for more staff members, so we are reaching out to the Columbus Regional Hospital staff whose jobs have been temporarily interrupted, and placing them in many areas at St. Francis.
It is important to emphasize that we are working hard to support our colleagues in a time of need, and that when the time comes for Columbus Regional Hospital to re-open, we will work hard to make the transition back to Columbus Regional Hospital for these physicians, as smooth as possible.
We are so proud of your compassionate spirit, problem-solving ingenuity and capacity to love. We know you join everyone at St. Francis in saying welcome to the patients, physicians, nurses and staff of Columbus Regional Hospital. I know you will demonstrate to our friends and colleagues at Columbus Regional Hospital that the St. Francis family stands with them -- shoulder-to-shoulder – during this time of loss, transition, recovery and someday soon, restoration.
More information on our guests will follow soon and your department director also will provide information that is more specific to each of your areas.
To learn more about out how we are helping Columbus Regional Hospital, please visit www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=404.
Thank you for all that you do to transform the spirit of St. Francis into action.
Note: To view a video of how flooding has affected Columbus Regional Hospital, go to http://www.therepublic.com and click on Hospital Shows Flooded Areas.
It is important to emphasize that we are working hard to support our colleagues in a time of need, and that when the time comes for Columbus Regional Hospital to re-open, we will work hard to make the transition back to Columbus Regional Hospital for these physicians, as smooth as possible.
We are so proud of your compassionate spirit, problem-solving ingenuity and capacity to love. We know you join everyone at St. Francis in saying welcome to the patients, physicians, nurses and staff of Columbus Regional Hospital. I know you will demonstrate to our friends and colleagues at Columbus Regional Hospital that the St. Francis family stands with them -- shoulder-to-shoulder – during this time of loss, transition, recovery and someday soon, restoration.
More information on our guests will follow soon and your department director also will provide information that is more specific to each of your areas.
To learn more about out how we are helping Columbus Regional Hospital, please visit www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=404.
Thank you for all that you do to transform the spirit of St. Francis into action.
Note: To view a video of how flooding has affected Columbus Regional Hospital, go to http://www.therepublic.com and click on Hospital Shows Flooded Areas.
