Stories from the Front Lines
Here are the stories of health care workers across the field fighting coronavirus, collaborating with their communities, supporting each other and coping every day. They are real people overcoming extraordinary challenges and saving lives.
Positive Stories:
In rural Nebraska, a hospital CEO has posted daily updates about the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing important information with staff and the entire community since late March.
In a compelling video interview, four front-line health care professionals with Mayo Clinic share their experiences caring for COVID-19 patients.
Kootenai Health, based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, used powerful photos of its COVID-19 isolation unit to create an inspiring “thank you, heroes” video.
Conway (Arkansas) Regional Health System was beginning to work toward 2020 goals and priorities when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Here’s how the leadership team refocused priorities, using a three-pronged approach to address challenges.
Like many other rural hospitals, Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Minnesota, has increased virtual health visits with patients, improving access and transforming health care delivery.
As part of the Healthy St. Landry Alliance, Opelousas General Health System in Louisiana helped develop a coordinated communications pipeline to address residents’ needs during the pandemic.
A website launched during the pandemic provides reliable resources for people to manage their mental health and seek help for loved ones and themselves when needed.
A program at UAMS Health in Arkansas pairs medical residents, fellows and students with older adult patients for virtual social visits.
The Kansas Hospital Association launched an initiative with several ways for people to show appreciation to health care heroes during the pandemic.
WVU Medicine in West Virginia, like other hospitals and health systems, is keeping patients and communities updated on the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape.
In Anchorage, Alaska, a regional hospital prepares for a second surge of COVID-19 cases, with six months’ experience and more knowledge about the virus.
Emergency departments across the U.S. face enormous pressure during the pandemic. This story spotlights the ED team at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
To meet the needs of parents with babies during the pandemic, pediatricians and staff at Monument Health Spearfish in South Dakota are coordinating donations of diapers.
Butler Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Rhode Island, shares encouragement and ideas for managing anxiety and stress during the pandemic.
A fourth-grade student wrote a heartfelt note thanking the heroes at Nebraska Medicine for helping people and fighting “villain viruses.”
A virtual health library on the website of Jackson Hospital in Alabama offers COVID-19 updates and resources on coping.
A nurse at Maui Memorial Medical Center in Hawaii writes about the challenges — and triumphs — of working in a COVID-19 unit.
A wedding ceremony at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio fulfills a couple’s wish and helps speed the groom’s recovery from COVID-19.
In a University of Utah Health podcast series, health care professionals talk candidly about their work caring for patients during the pandemic.
Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, created a specialized COVID-19 Recovery Program to treat patients who have recovered from COVID-19 but continue to experience long-term symptoms.
ChristianaCare, based in Delaware, led webinars on COVID-19 safety for barbershops and salons in underserved communities, donated sanitation kits and shared educational materials.
Caregivers at INTEGRIS Health, based in Oklahoma City, are featured in a social media campaign about wearing face masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.
To address food insecurity in New Mexico, Albuquerque-based Presbyterian Healthcare Services is offering free meals for children at seven hospitals statewide.
Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago is continuing to provide free mental health services targeting minority and immigrant populations – and offering counseling services to staff too.
A team at M Health Fairview in Minnesota creates a rehabilitation playbook to provide individualized care to COVID-19 patients after their hospital discharge.
The COVID-to-Home program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center monitors and assesses COVID-19 patients from diagnosis to discharge and saves lives.
A social worker with the U.S. Army Reserve bonds with a 96-year-old patient, a veteran of World War II now fighting COVID-19.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health collaborates with community partners to improve food access during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A COVID-19 sewing taskforce is making masks that Sentara Healthcare providers are wearing to better communicate with all patients.
Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels, a program of Michigan Medicine, delivers nutritious, prepared meals and makes wellness calls during the pandemic.
Community HealthCare System has been working with local and state partners to prepare for and manage COVID-19 cases.
Hackensack Meridian Health is partnering with community organizations to help meet increasing needs for food and other essentials during the pandemic.
COVID-19 bereavement is challenging. UnityPoint Health offers a new online bereavement support group to help families and friends cope during these difficult times.
White Plains Hospital works with community partners to address food insecurity and other health and social needs of its neighbors.
Rogers Behavioral Health offers free resources on compassion, compassion fatigue, wellness and resilience strategies and other topics.
Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, offers a Senior Shape exercise program via Zoom, so older adults keep moving and stay connected to others.
Columbia VA Health Care System partnered with the Central South Carolina American Red Cross to conduct blood drives, responding to the need to replenish critically low blood supplies.
Boston Children’s Hospital supports several local health centers to ensure children are vaccinated and distribute food, clothing, books and more to families.
LifeBridge Health’s population health team provides outreach to help meet the health and social needs of vulnerable populations.
Memorial Health System in Illinois provides education and resources across its communities as stay-at-home restrictions lift.
University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center’s partnership with the Southern Maryland Food Bank provides tens of thousands of meals to children and families experiencing financial hardships.
COVID-19 patients and their families with limited means received gift cards for food and other essentials from UH Rainbow Center for Women & Children and local nonprofits.
Penn State Health and a local food bank and pantry are teaming up to distribute food boxes at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site and to deliver to people at home.
Cedars-Sinai contributes millions of dollars to help meet the basic needs of people most affected by COVID-19.
Franciscan Health worked with its community partners on educational kits to help thousands of families cope during the pandemic.
St. James Parish Hospital, local government and community partners accelerate coordinated communications efforts to slow the virus’s spread in rural Louisiana.
Front-line staff in a New York City hospital meet for “hope huddles” to share positive patient outcomes and inspiring stories.
The Fort Myers Police Department shows its appreciation to local health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The South Carolina Hospital Association deployed a traveling billboard to thank front-line workers throughout the state.
Medical students offer helping hands to health care workers and their children at their homes.
Harrison Memorial Hospital and its small-town community demonstrate the tenacity of the human spirit in the fight against COVID-19.
Medical students in Texas are answering community hotline calls and providing crucial help during the pandemic.
Front-line staff at St. Rose Dominican Hospital make sure a 91-year-old patient's birthday is special.
A "Rise Up For Heroes" CARE-avan celebrates front-line health care workers in St. Louis.
At UofL Health, the “Power of U” means compassion and appreciation.
An ICU nurse films a poignant video about life on the front lines at Hartford HealthCare, which has declared May "Health Care Heroes Month."
High school students helped create robotic trays for use by health care workers at Hendrick Health System in Texas.
Summit Healthcare in Arizona taps social media to improve access to behavioral health care during this pandemic.
Two Intermountain Healthcare teams traveled from Utah to New York to help overwhelmed health care workers—and gain valuable knowledge and experience.
Kettering Medical Center finds a creative way to thank health care workers with a honk and honor salute
Elliot Health System nurses know a clean and safe environment is vital to combatting COVID-19 and honor their environmental services team as health care heroes.
ICU nurses at Cedars-Sinai rely on teamwork and technology as they provide compassionate care for patients.
At Baystate Health hospitals, the "Rocky" theme song plays as staff cheer for recovered COVID-19 patients leaving the hospital to return home.
Though most patients are isolated during treatment for COVID-19, health care workers offer care and comfort in creative ways.
COVID-19 has been a devastating experience everywhere, but in small, rural hospitals and their communities, the impact is particularly intense.
At Coffey Health System, the board of trustees shows its appreciation to hospital staff.
Cody Regional Health in Wyoming created a wellness pod for hardworking staff.
Hospital and health system leaders are finding meaningful ways to honor staff and support resilience.
An anesthesiology resident in Portland, Ore., educates followers on social distancing and more in a unique way.
How do parents on the front lines talk about COVID-19 challenges with their children? Here’s how one Philadelphia area family is coping.
FCN creates virtual community connections to share COVID-19 updates, resources and spiritual support.
Wynn, a yellow Lab, makes life a little less stressful at a Denver hospital.
Tanner Health System is using social media to encourage and inspire health care workers. Cookies help too.
For health care workers with children, returning home from a shift means taking extra precautions before sharing hugs and kisses.
A 9-year-old reporter interviews two physicians at Children’s Hospital Colorado about novel coronavirus.
Two Mayo Clinic surgery residents share their rendition of “Imagine” during the COVID-19 crisis.
MetroHealth and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank are partnering to make home deliveries of fresh produce to community members in need during the pandemic.
At Providence St. Joseph Health in Washington state, staff and volunteers are making face shields and surgical masks to protect health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients.
Kaiser Permanente is committing $1 million to support the coronavirus response for the homeless population.