Washington County: Hospitals cite progress in COVID-19 fight

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Washington County hospitals know they have an important job to do.

Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic that started last March, officials have been tasked with keeping their communities safe, along with staff members working the front lines. 

With vaccine rollouts increasing across the globe, hospital officials are more hopeful than ever. 

During the second part of Washington County’s annual state of the economy presentation on Thursday, Brook Ward, CEO of Washington Health System, and Louis J. Panza, Jr., CEO of Monongahela Valley Hospital, updated members of the community on a how the pandemic has impacted local heath systems.

Ward said it has been difficult to see his staff dealing with added stress. 

“There has been a lot of stress for front-line workers, dealing with people they can’t save,” he said. 

While hospitals have tried to physically and mentally take care of their staffs during this trying time, it has been challenging.

“We have established a wellness room for staff to get a break, which is so important when you are seeing clergy give their last blessings to someone through a glass window in the ICU,” Panza said. “Our staff is amazing. Especially during this time.”

Ward said community support for front-line workers has been uplifting. 

“The cards, food, gifts, letters people have dropped off,” Ward said. “It has been incredible.”

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