November 23, 2020 (Spearman, TX) – Heading into the holidays, Hansford County Hospital District is thanking its nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, EMS teams, aides, environmental services staff, and all of its other team members who have worked to deliver the highest quality care under challenging circumstances this year.
“We owe a debt of gratitude for everyone working at our hospital, clinic, and nursing home,” said Jonathan Bailey, CEO, Hansford County Hospital District. “COVID-19 has been a major threat to our community, and I’m proud of everyone here who has given so much of themselves to make sure everyone gets the care they need.”
With COVID-19 cases surging in October, HCHD converted some of its nursing home beds to inpatient beds.
“We needed to increase the availability of hospital beds in our community because of the growing number of COVID-19 infections and because hospitals we normally transfer our sickest patients to in Amarillo, Lubbock, and Oklahoma are at capacity themselves,” said Bailey. “It was another way everyone here has been flexible and focused on finding solutions.”
With the holidays approaching, HCHD encourages the community to exercise personal responsibility and follow public health guidance that cautions against indoor gatherings and recommends masks and social distancing.
“I can add more beds and get more equipment if I need to, but I can’t get more staff,” said Bailey. “Since March, our team has worked double shifts, isolated from their families, and gone weeks without a break. They’re tired, and they need our support. The best way to do that is to take every step to avoid spreading the virus ourselves.”