NOTE: This message was emailed on Saturday, Sept. 11, from Ballad Health Chairman and chief executive officer Alan Levine to all team members.
Dear Colleague:
I know the past few weeks have been increasingly difficult as our volume of COVID-19 cases has continued to increase. Throughout the system, our incredible caregivers are devoting themselves to patients who are sicker, and much more complicated than what we have seen in the past.
Regardless of the setting you find yourself in, the challenges are enormous. If you are caring for COVID patients, or if you are not, the impact on you and your colleagues is taking its toll. I just want to tell you that the feedback I receive from people throughout the community is how appreciated you are. It may not seem that way day-to-day, but it is true. And I think that will become more evident as we continue to move forward.
While incredible work is happening everywhere, and there are stories of either miracles or tragedy throughout, my thoughts this morning are with the team at Niswonger Children’s Hospital. I really can’t get into details, but this past week brought some very difficult moments – many of which took a serious emotional toll on the team. We are at a stage in this pandemic where pregnant women and their children are at risk and dealing with the consequences of that risk, and combined with other tragic situations involving children, even for the most experienced caregiver, many are reaching their human limits.
Just because you may be a skilled caregiver does not mean you are not human. Many times, we assume nurses and doctors, and others who provide hands-on care for patients (or support those who do), are able to deal with these difficult problems as a matter of course – some may think you have a bad outcome or situation, and you then just move on to the next case. We know that not to be true, and in fact, would hope it is never true. We want our team to be human, to feel empathy for our patients and their families, and to never disconnect. That having been said, we also want our team to be resilient, and my observation is that in each case, the resiliency comes from the support we give each other. Please, if you feel you need to talk with someone, take advantage of our Employee Assistance Program. It is there for you.
Questions about President Biden’s recent announcement related to vaccines
Many have inquired about Ballad Health’s intentions with respect to mandatory vaccines. To be clear, Ballad Health’s clinical leadership has done enormous work evaluating the evidence surrounding the vaccines. They are safe, and they are effective. Many of the arguments against the vaccine are based on misinformation – for instance, the suggestion that the vaccines cause infertility or harm pregnant women or their children. Not only is there no evidence to support that claim, what we are finding from our own experience is that women who are pregnant and who get the virus are exposed to terrible symptoms far worse than any side effect from the vaccine, up to and including death. The consequence for a pregnant woman and her child appears to be far worse without the vaccine. We have seen this with our own eyes, and it confirms what the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Society for Fetal and Maternal Medicine have both said – that all women should be vaccinated, particularly if they are planning to have children.
Also, this week, a Joint Statement was released by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Family Medicine, and American Board of Pediatrics – targeting misinformation about vaccines. In it, they support a statement by the Federation of State Medical Boards, which has said “that providing misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine contradicts physicians’ ethical and professional responsibilities, and therefore may subject a physician to disciplinary actions, including suspension or revocation of their medical license.”
Certainly, I cannot recall a time in my career when there has been such unanimity among so many cross-sections of the medical profession arguing against misinformation, and FOR vaccination. Of course, social media has never before been such a factor, and we have all now borne witness to how efficiently misinformation can be spread using such a medium.
As for the President’s announcement this week, there were two major provisions which could impact Ballad Health. One relates to all employers with more than 100 employees, which will be administered by a rule yet to be written by the Department of Labor. The second one relates to healthcare entities, like hospitals, which would presumably be required to implement new policies based on yet-to-be written guidance from Medicare, and compliance would be required in order to maintain Medicare funding.
With both of these provisions, it is impossible to know what Ballad Health is to do until we see the actual language of the regulations.
Some may call these “vaccine mandates.” They are technically not mandates. In both cases, according to the President’s words, the employer is to require either a vaccine or ongoing testing.
I have received advocacy from various team members, many of whom are advocating that Ballad Health implement a vaccine mandate irrespective of the President’s action. Others have argued forcefully against such a mandate. We have been clear that our goal is to make sure we can staff appropriately to care for the volume of patients we have, and to not create an even more difficult situation limiting our capability to serve the significant needs of our region. Ultimately, we believe everyone should be vaccinated who can be, and who does not have a valid religious issue or medical reason for not being vaccinated.
Regardless of what Ballad Health was preparing to do either way, the President’s action requires that we pause, and wait until we receive guidance in the form of specificity in the rules. If we were to take any action now, it could be possible we’d have to change course again once the rules come out. So, for now, it is best to wait until we see what the requirements will be in the rules. At that point, we will make an educated decision about our actions. Whatever decision we make will come with the full support of the Board of Directors and management, and that decision will be final.
In the strongest possible terms, I urge you to consider becoming vaccinated. Vaccine requirements are nothing new to Ballad Health, as we already have many. But, at the end of the day, no matter what Ballad Health does, it remains your choice whether to become vaccinated or not. What I can say is that each of us who choose not to be vaccinated are exposing ourselves to a virus that we may or may not be able to fight off – and we now have the benefit of seeing the impact on otherwise healthy people who have suffered enormously, or perished in a terrible way because of something that was very preventable. Each of us is valuable, and we are all needed by our colleagues, family, friends and others – who do not want to see us suffer unnecessarily. So, regardless of what President Biden says or does, I ask you to consider your choice carefully and do what you need to do to protect yourself.
Thank you for all you do, and God bless you.
Alan
Alan Levine
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ballad Health
