external assessment area: providing safe care for our community

When the world first started hearing about a new type of coronavirus in China, the leadership at San Juan Regional Medical Center knew we had to be proactive and prepare for a pandemic in our community. Our Emergency Preparedness team started the conversation early on. We knew we needed to put together a plan to be able to test large numbers of people while also conserving as much PPE as possible and protecting the rest of our patients. The answer: an external assessment area where patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19 could drive up in their vehicles to be assessed and potentially tested.

Even before we had any positive cases confirmed in New Mexico, Incident Command was up and running with the plan, erecting a tent in just one day and then conducting a preparatory drill on March 5 to run through the logistics.

Our first external assessment opened up to the community on March 13, the first of its kind in our area. On March 21, the first positive case in San Juan County was announced. That individual was tested at our tent. Through the External Assessment’s run, which concluded on June 1, we saw 1,777 drive-through patients and administered 1,017 tests. People who weren’t sure where to go had a place to turn to. Patients who needed a higher level of care got the help they needed.

“Many patients who came through the external assessment area required more care than just a COVID test. By seeing a provider, patients were assessed to see if there were any concerning signs on a physical exam that would require more emergent care. Some patients did required immediate care and were sent to the ER from the external assessment area. Some patients were evaluated and required non-emergent care but did require additional treatments such as antibiotics, steroids, or inhalers based on the physical exam,” Nurse Practitioner Taffeta Troutner, one of the providers working the external assessment area, said. 

This venture was a true testament to San Juan Regional Medical Center’s core values, especially Team Accountability.

“Team Accountability made the external assessment area possible,” Troutner said. “Multiple departments in the facility, multiple nurses, and multiple providers stepped out of their everyday roles to assure that patients were cared for while also making sure the staff was safe in providing that care.” 

“It took a village, that’s for sure. The comradery was amazing,” ED Clinical Educator Jamie McCarty said.

McCarty, who had oversight of the operations at the tent, said it took a few weeks to get a routine down. But after a while, with a core group of individuals at the tent every day it was open, they were able to work safely and efficiently, dedicating themselves to providing for our community.

“There were a lot of people who came from a lot of different ‘jobs’ within this institution that normally wouldn't interact with each other. Over the course of nearly three months we came to know each other and will make this hospital stronger together,” McCarty said.

The hospital’s caregivers also feel that the interactions with the community during the height of the pandemic have made a big difference.

“I am proud of our community and how much they supported the staff at SJRMC,” Troutner said. “Our community has done so much for our staff like painting rocks, writing messages on the sidewalks, delivering food, making masks. I am in awe at the response.” 

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