Grayson County’s healthcare leadership along with Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson held a coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing Thursday afternoon at the Grayson County Government Building Annex.
Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center CEO Wayne Meriwether took a few moments to recognize the “healthcare heroes” who are risking their good health and lives every day as they battle the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontlines.
“Our healthcare workers are so important and I’m glad to see them being recognized.” Meriwether said. “I want to take just a moment today to thank all of our healthcare heroes at Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center and I want to encourage each of you to do the same. Send them a text, give them a call, send them a message on Facebook. Let them know how much you appreciate what they do. They are putting their lives on the line every day, more-so now as we are treating this coronavirus.”
Meriwether was sure to recognize not only nurses but the support staff and lab and other technicians working behind the scenes.
“It’s not just nurses,” Meriwether said, “it’s the med techs; it’s the lab techs who are going in and drawing the blood; it’s our environmental services staff who are cleaning the rooms; it’s the maintenance guys that are making sure everything works correctly. It’s those folks that are working in the physician’s offices, in administration, in the building office … reach out and let them know how much you appreciate them … just thank our healthcare heroes.”
Healthcare Appreciation Parade
There will be a Healthcare Appreciation Parade on Friday from 11:00 a.m. to noon at Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center. The event, sponsored by TLRMC and K105, is an opportunity for Grayson County and surrounding communities to show its appreciation for the risk healthcare workers are taking every day during the COVID-19 pandemic.
People are encouraged to make homemade signs to show support for healthcare workers as parade attendees are asked to enter TLRMC’s parking lot from Wallace Avenue, drive straight through the lot before exiting on the Cave Bland side of the facility.
Emergency Red Cross Blood Drive
Meriwether promoted an Emergency Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center and scheduled for Friday, April 10, from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the nation’s blood supply, making tomorrow’s emergency blood drive even more significant to the community.
If anyone who plans to donate has yet to make an appointment, please call 1-800-Red-Cross.
TLRMC to be regional test site
Meriwether said that TLRMC has been asked by Public Health Director Dr. Steven Stack to become one of 32 regional coronavirus testing sites around Kentucky.
The state has contracted with Gravity Lab, a commercial lab in Covington in northern Kentucky, to produce about 2,000 test kits per day that will be distributed throughout the state, providing many more opportunities to perform tests, according to Meriwether.
Masks now standard for TLRMC staff
Meriwether, who arrived to speak at the podium wearing a mask, said hospital staff are now wearing masks to prevent employees from spreading the virus to other staff and patients.
He recommended people wear masks, and eye protection, when going out in the community.
Drive-thru testing
He said drive-thru testing is “going well,” and noted that the TLRMC is “probably testing three or four people per day” via drive-thru testing.
Recognizing donors
Meriwether offered a thank you to those who have donated items to Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center over the last several days, including First Apostolic Church (cash donation), Walmart (snacks, water, ponchos for staff), ECTC (masks, gowns, gloves, and 3-D printed face shields), Mark Weaver and members of his church, Clarkson Church of Christ (masks), and Tom and Joanne Glasscock (masks).
Testing numbers in Grayson County
Rebekah Lee, representing the Grayson County Health Department, and Meriwether, presented COVID-19 testing numbers for their respective facilities.
Lee said the health department has performed 100 tests on Grayson County residents, with 88 negative tests, nine pending and three positive tests. Meriwether said TLRMC has performed 49 tests, with 42 of those tests coming back negative, two positive tests and five pending.
TLRMC conducts tests not only on Grayson County residents but people from other counties as well.
Lee noted that with test kits becoming more prevalent, and more testing being done, additional positive tests are likely, with a spike in positive tests in Grayson County a real possibility.
For questions regarding COVID-19 testing, Lee and Henderson asked citizens to call the health department’s COVID-19 testing hotline at 270-899-0467, or call the Grayson County Health Department at 270-259-3141 with other questions pertaining to the coronavirus.
Click here to view the briefing.
(Headline photo: Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center Radiology team)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
