Today, let's think about the patients and their families. My cousin works at University Hospitals  (UH) in Cleveland.  For 6 years she's served as the principal advisor for patient and family engagement, one of the first positions of its kind in the country.  She helps patients and families, health care staff, and patient advocate volunteers better engage patients and families in their care, and make UH a more patient-centered hospital.

 

During this pandemic, the staff at all hospitals are finding ways to connect patients with their families who are not allowed to visit. UH (probably like other hospitals) are purchasing iPads for staff to use specifically for this purpose.

 

So it made me think that perhaps some of you are also wondering how you can help.  Below is contact information for the 3 main Cleveland hospitals if you'd like to donate money for an iPad, or for something else - like food for the staff. For those of you not in Cleveland, if you want to make some type of donation, I suggest you call the administrative or volunteer office at the hospital near you and ask how you can help.  

 

  Barbara Nalette, volunteer services - Barbara.Nalette@uhhospitals.org (food for staff's 'silent rooms' - where they can rest)

  Debbie Lewis - Institutional Development - Deborah.Lewis2@uhhospitals.org (for monetary donations for iPads - approximately $439/each)

 

  Sandra Keaveney - for caregiver support and general information on offering support - KEAVENS2@ccf.org

  Chris McMahan - for corporations/business offering assistance - mcmahac@ccf.org

  Cara Nething - Make a Mask program - NETHINC@ccf.org

 

  Rita Andolsen - for caregiver support/food - randolsen@metrohealth.org

  Kate Brown - monetary donations - kbrown@metrohealth.org

 

And the obvious song... maybe you'll get up and dance with your family!

 

Be safe.