Pandemic or not, Chatham Hospital serves every day

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SILER CITY — National Hospital Week holds a different significance this year in the wake of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak.

“COVID is just happening, it’s not what we’re known for,” says Keith Stinson, the emergency department nursing director for Chatham Hospital. “Ultimately Chatham Hospital is a small local facility to meet your needs and care with resources available if necessary. It’s a family environment because of staff and you’ll feel that coming in.”

Chatham Hospital in Siler City was founded in 1936. In 1950, the facility moved from a single story building into a three-story building on Third Street that was recently torn down. Since 2008, it’s been housed in a gleaming facility on Progress Boulevard near Walmart in Siler City and is a part of the UNC Hospitals network of care facilities.

“We have a closer relationship than just an affiliation,” Stinson said of the relationship with UNC Hospitals. “We’ve been rewarded by the ability to add additional equipment, additional training and supplies as well as staff from UNC for COVID care. This close relationship has multiple benefits for us.”

Chatham Hospital typically has 25 beds for a range of care, including the ability to do perform orthopedic, general and gynecological surgeries. The hospital also has what Stinson describes as an “elaborate physical therapy” program for in- and out-patient and a “robust cardiac rehab program.”

“Pre-COVID, we were a rural location providing general care to the community with access to high level care through UNC System,” he said.

The hospital, which stopped doing child birth services twenty years ago, is hoping to start again in September with the anticipated opening of five new maternity beds for low-risk births. Stinson noted that a study by UNC Healthcare found that birthing care was a service that was in need in Siler City and UNC Hospitals chose to expand services at the hospital—about a $2.5 million investment.

Though that progress continues, Chatham Hospital is now operating under new circumstances with COVID-19. Since April, the hospital has cared for patients with COVID-19, but Stinson notes that the most severe patients are being moved to facilities in Chapel Hill. At the same time, post-acute patients and those receiving rehabilitation in Chapel Hill are being sent to Siler City to “open capacity” so that Chatham’s “sicker patients” can be sent to Chapel Hill, according to Stinson.

Stinson also said that while testing had been “scant” previously, the hospital, in collaboration with the Chatham County Health Department, set up a drive-thru testing facility which tested 30 people on Thursday alone. Anyone can come up to the site and be evaluated to determine whether they should be tested. The hospital is also coordinating with Lee County on testing as it sees an increase in cases.

“We know our residents live and work in either county,” Stinson said. “So we’re just trying to support both communities.”

Stinson said the hospital staff ultimately is “doing OK.” The hospital has an adequate amount of personal protective equipment (PPE); staff members wear masks and all patients are given a fresh mask when they arrive to the hospital. Each visitor to the hospital, including staff, is screened for symptoms and masked. Staff is very concerned about “not putting others at risk.” But there are other tolls hospital staff are paying.

“They have isolation at home and isolation at work,” Stinson said. “The are not taking lunch in groups or gathering. They are having the same social isolation that you feel at home as well. And they worry about bringing it home to their families.”

Though the extra equipment they wear carries a weight, Stinson notes that the staff have been very grateful for the support from the community, churches and businesses. And even as they serve, Stinson notes they have greater concerns for the community than just COVID. Hospital volume is down 40 percent and Stinson is worried that people are putting off care out of fear of the virus.

“We are very concerned that patients are not coming in for fear of being exposed,” Stinson said. “So someone experiencing chest pain may wait longer. I want to stress. Do not delay emergency treatment because of COVID-19. We have a system in place to protect you. That’s the biggest thing, don’t delay treatment.”

Casey Mann can be reached at CaseyMann@Chathamnr.com.