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NURSES

From AIDS to COVID-19, America’s Medical System Has a Long History of Relying on Filipino Nurses to Fight on the Frontlines

In the early days of the pandemic, Susan Castor, a 64-year-old Filipino American nurse, would make her rounds taking care of patients at a transitional care unit at Community Medical Center in Toms River, N.J., wearing only a standard surgical mask, due to a nationwide shortage of PPE. Fortunately, Castor recovered after contracting the novel coronavirus—but countless other Filipino health care workers have not. The coronavirus has taken a devastating toll on Filipino nurses battling COVID-19 in the U.S. According to National Nurses United, as of April 2021, 24 percent of the nurses they surveyed who died from COVID-19 complications were Filipino; but, Filipinos only make up 4 percent of the total registered nurses in the country.

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Nurse fired after sharing video from inside DMC Sinai Grace Hospital still helping fight COVID pandemic

DETROIT – It was almost exactly a year ago when a wave of COVID patients was starting to overwhelm hospitals. A Metro Detroit nurse took a video inside Sinai Grace Hospital and spoke about the need for more supplies. The hospital said that the cellphone video violated hospital policy and Barkai was fired. Detroit and Sinai Grace got hit by a wave of COVID-19 patients to the point the hospital was running out of space for those who were dying. Barkai is still involved in litigation with the company that owns Sinai Grace.

U-M’s Mott Children’s Hospital creates buttons of friendly faces for teams treating children

Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital now wear buttons with their faces on them to improve patient experience while masks remain a critical safety measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Mott Children’s Hospital can now safely see what their care team looks like. “Being at the hospital can be a scary and nerve-racking experience for children,” Luanne Thomas Ewald, chief operating officer at Mott and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital said in a statement. “We recognize that COVID precautions may make it difficult for some patients to recognize the people who are taking care of them. “Current restrictions are critical to keeping our hospital community safe but also limit some human interactions that show you care.

Michigan Medicine expands eligibility for systemwide COVID-19 vaccination

A nurse holds vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine above a deep freeze cooler at Michigan Stadium on Dec. 31, 2020. ANN ARBOR – Michigan Medicine announced in an email to staff on Monday that it has expanded the Phase 1A COVID-19 vaccine priority group after administering more than 11,000 vaccines since Dec. 14. Based on recommendations from the state, those now eligible for a Phase 1A vaccine at University of Michigan include:Anyone serving in a role at Michigan Medicine or University of Michigan who works in a clinical setting (i.e. hospital, ambulatory clinic, home care) and is not able to work exclusively remotely is able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine now as part of Phase 1A. Michigan Medicine is administering vaccines seven days a week.

U-M begins COVID-19 vaccinations at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Stadium reopened its doors on Thursday morning after months of closure as a new site for Michigan Medicine’s sweeping COVID-19 vaccination program. Michigan Medicine aims to eventually vaccinate 2,000 people per day at The Big House, said David Miller, urologist and Chief Clinical Officer at U-M’s Cardiovascular Hospital. Signs guide individuals to Michigan Medicine's COVID Vaccine Clinic at the Jack Roth Stadium Club at Michigan Stadium on Dec. 31, 2020. Individuals are seen being monitored for 15 minutes after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at Michigan Stadium on Dec. 31, 2020. A nurse holds vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine above a deep freeze cooler at Michigan Stadium on Dec. 31, 2020.

First Washtenaw County Health Department staff receive COVID-19 vaccinations

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Staff at Washtenaw County Health Department received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. “I’m so excited to be vaccinated, and I don’t have to wait because it’s my job to vaccinate others,” said Christina Zilke, registered nurse and nursing supervisor with Washtenaw County Health Department in a release. The Health Department received an initial supply of 1,950 doses of the Pfizer Inc./BioNTech vaccine. READ: First Michigan Medicine employees receive COVID-19 vaccineNurse practitioner Cathy Wilczynski vaccinates Washtenaw County Health Department medical director Juan Marquez (left) and emergency preparedness administrator Cindra James (right). (Washtenaw County Health Department)“We’re feeling both grateful and optimistic as we begin this vaccination process,” said Jimena Loveluck, MSW, health officer for Washtenaw County in the release.

St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor receives COVID-19 vaccines, begins vaccinations

A healthcare worker at St. Joe's Ann Arbor holds up a sticker that says "I Got Vaccinated" as COVID-19 vaccinations get underway. ANN ARBOR – The first shipment of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived at four hospitals within the Mercy Health and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System on Thursday, including St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids and Mercy Health Muskegon. Mercy Health Muskegon received 1,950 doses while the other three hospitals received 975. All hospitals within Trinity Health Michigan have ultra-cold freezers capable of storing the vaccines. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.stjoeshealth.org/vaccine.

First Michigan Medicine employees receive COVID-19 vaccine

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Medicine began vaccinating its frontline workers against COVID-19 on Monday, with an initial group of five employees. MORE: University of Michigan Hospital workers show what ‘reconstituting’ COVID vaccine meansOn Monday morning, Michigan Medicine received an initial shipment of 1,950 of the Pfizer Inc./BioNTech vaccine. Roughly 40 Michigan Medicine employees are expected to be vaccinated starting Tuesday with vaccinations increasing next week, depending on supply. The first five employees at Michigan Medicine to receive the COVID-19 vaccine pose for a photo on Dec. 14, 2020. These groups will be determined by Michigan Medicine’s COVID-19 Vaccine & Therapeutics Taskforce which is following recommendations from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan Medicine joins country’s top hospitals in #MaskUp campaign as COVID-19 surges nationwide

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Medicine has partnered with about 100 of the country’s top health care systems urging Americans to mask up as COVID-19 cases reach record-breaking highs. Over the past two weeks, more than 900 medical workers at Mayo Clinic tested positive for COVID-19. The message reads:“As the top nationally-ranked hospitals, we know it’s tough that we all need to do our part and keep wearing masks. However now is exactly the wrong time to let up,” Marschall S. Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine and dean of the U-M Medical School said in a statement. “But for now, we have to use the tools that we know work: wearing masks, staying socially distant and washing hands.

Michigan Medicine announces restrictions to visitors as statewide COVID-19 cases surge

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Medicine announced Monday it has added visitor restrictions at its hospitals and clinics to curb the spread of COVID-19 and to protect patients and staff. Visitors, including family, are required to wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth at all Michigan Medicine properties, including inside a patient’s room. No visitors will be allowed in clinics for adult patients unless the patient has a physical or cognitive impairment that requires assistance. We hope that by adding these restrictions, we will better protect everyone from COVID-19,” Washer continued. “Limiting visitors and requiring a mask at all times will help reduce the spread of infection.”Related reading:

Workers at Westland nursing home to go on strike amid pandemic

WESTLAND, Mich. – A group of nursing home workers will walk off the job Monday morning over their working conditions in the pandemic. Essential nursing home workers at Four Seasons Rehabilitation and Nursing home, located on Newburgh Road in Westland, had agreed in August to delay their planned strike by 30 days after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged SEIU Healthcare Michigan and nursing home chains to negotiate toward a fair contract. RELATED: Wayne County COVID-19 data: Tracking cases, deaths; City-by-city breakdownThey said that they are treated like they’re dispensable and will now walk off the job Monday at 6 a.m., kicking off their strike over unfair labor practices. They said they’re arguing for more PPE, better pay and more staff to help take care of patients.

4 doctors, 2 nurse practitioners, 3 pharmacists among 19 indicted in Metro Detroit drug scheme

DETROIT – Four doctors, two nurse practitioners and three pharmacists are among the 19 people who have been indicted in connection with an elaborate drug scheme that went on for years, officials said. The opioid epidemic is still very much a problem in Metro Detroit, with people addicted to and dying from pain pills, heroin and fentanyl. Oxycodone, Percocet and hydrocodone are powerful pain pills that were pedaled on the streets for cash. “These people are greedy and they don’t care about the average citizen,” said Steve Dolunt, the former assistant Detroit police chief. “Average people, some people, have pain,” Dolunt said.

Frontline workers struggle with burnout amid pandemic

DETROIT – Health care workers, especially those on the frontlines in the fight against coronavirus, are experiencing burnout at alarming rates. It’s a silent crisis hiding in the shadow of the pandemic and it can potentially harm patients, the doctors and nurses themselves. A recent study published in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine finds the prevalence of burnout is 40%. When he recovered, he traveled to New York to treat coronavirus patients. A plea to the public to protect themselves and others to reduce the burden on front line medical workers, at imminent risk of burning out.

Cleveland Clinic sends 13 nurses to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit

The Cleveland Clinic has sent 13 nurses to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit for COVID-19 response assistance and relief. They will spend up to four weeks at various Henry Ford Hospital locations treating COVID-19 patients, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This video shows their sendoff:On Wednesday, Henry Ford Health System announced that it would be laying off about 2,800 workers temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, while executives will donate a percentage of their salary to help workers. According to officials, the health system lost $43 million in operating income in March, and that loss is expected to be even greater in April. Officials cite the postponement and cancellation of services and procedures, temporary site closures, and an increased need for resources to care for COVID-19 patients, including personal protective equipment for team members as reasons for the losses.