Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Spring/Summer 2020

Gibson gets it! 3 As a precaution to maintain patient and provider safety during the coronavirus health crisis, Mandy Whitecotton, a certified nursing assistant at The Paxton Clinic, disinfects regularly while wearing personal protective equipment. She was among the many frontline healthcare workers who made it possible for us to continue providing necessary care to patients when the outbreak began. Do Wash your hands often with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow. Throw tissues in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily, including tables, doorknobs, countertops, desks, phones and keyboards. Call your health care provider if you have symptoms. Let them know you may have the virus. Wear a cloth face mask in public. DO’S & DON’TS Don’t Touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Spend time with people who are sick. Go out in public if you’re sick unless it’s to get medical care. Share household items, like dishes, drinking glasses, eating utensils, towels or bedding, with other people if you’re sick. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) We’re here for you As our state reopens, Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services is responsibly resuming many of the services that were sidelined because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we’ve taken the next steps to provide care in the “new normal,” I want to take this moment to look back at what we’ve been through together. We’ve come a long way since the pandemic began. Today I especially want to thank and honor our amazing nurses, doctors and staff. You really stepped up when our community needed you most. Your caring and dedication during this crisis has inspired all of us, and it truly demonstrates our mission to be THE model of excellence in community-based health care . We are forever grateful for all that you have done and continue to do to keep us well and safe. I also want to thank our communities for your patience, support and resilience during this national crisis. Through these unprecedented times, it’s reassuring to see how you’ve come together for a common cause. You’ve practiced safe social distancing; you’ve provided food, masks, sanitizer, and thanks to health care workers; and you’ve shown extraordinary kindness to each other. It is a privilege to serve you. Our commitment to you is and always has been: The health and well- being of our communities remain the top priorities at our hospital and clinics. We’ll continue to take the necessary measures to protect our patients and staff while making sure that you and your family have access to safe, high-quality care—now and in the future. Thank you for trusting Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services to provide your healthcare needs. When our communities need care, we will be here for you because Gibson Gets It! Respectfully, Rob Schmitt, Chief Executive Officer