Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2022

By Devin Weeks Staffing shortages created challenges for employers across the United States in 2021. Kootenai Health was no exception. When COVID-19 surged again at the end of summer and into fall, staff members from nonclinical and clinical departments across Kootenai stepped up to fill critically needed positions and support patient care areas as they cared for overwhelming numbers of COVID-19-positive patients. Nonclinical employees rolled up their sleeves to clean patient rooms, wash dishes, assist with virtual visitation in the COVID-19 units and contribute their time and talents wherever they were needed. In September, Kootenai filled more than 2,000 shifts comprising more than 8,200 hours of time worked by Labor Pool participants. “For many, this has been an opportunity to help during the Behind the Front Lines pandemic in a way they haven’t been able to before,” Elizabeth Brewer, director of research and care transformation, said. “For our nonclinical staff, this gave them a chance to support the teams that have been working on the front lines and contribute in a different way. Many of the jobs are very physically demanding, too, so a lot of us found new muscles we didn’t know could hurt!” The Labor Pool is brought into action when staffing challenges arise. During the COVID-19 surge, the patient population outweighed normal operations, prompting the Labor Pool. Through the Labor Pool, employees are invited to pick up extra shifts for incentives while covering staffing shortages. On an average day, the Labor Pool staffs six different areas with about three shifts per area. “They are definitely helpful,” Sarah Cushman, senior strategic business partner, said. “They round throughout an entire department, clean rooms, empty trash and laundry bins and even mop the common areas and hallways. These tasks have been taken off of the clinical staff and aided in infection control and overall cleanliness to ensure clinical caregivers’ prime focus remained on the patients and families we care for.” “Labor Pool is a chance to step into a co-worker’s shoes for a day and experience their work at a level you wouldn’t normally be able to,” Elizabeth said. “There’s no faster way to build understanding and camaraderie than getting shoulder to shoulder with someone and working together like this.” A look behind the front lines Watch a video filmed during the peak of our COVID-19 inpatient surge at KH.org/covid-19 . Need a COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot? Find clinics and information at panhandlehealthdistrict.org/ covid-19/vaccine. Reinforcements Kootenai Health staff rally together during pandemic surge Radiologic Technologist Lindsey Halverson folds clean whites during a Labor Pool shift. Sabrina Douglas, quality project manager, helps with laundry by sorting scrubs. 16