Stories from health care’s front lines: MultiCare employees step into new roles

By Walter Neary

With the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, MultiCare has been doing its part to help keep people safe, and conserve our inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE). Some of that work has included reducing or postponing some surgical procedures and other appointments across our entire system. While this has helped us extend our PPE resources, and reduces the number of people arriving at our facilities, it’s also meant that the normal work of a number of our valuable team members has been reduced.

To combat this — and to gear up for a potential influx of COVID-19 positive patients — MultiCare implemented Regional Labor Pools in both the Puget Sound and Inland Northwest regions.

What’s a labor pool? Simply put, it’s a group of employees who are available to work and support departments and teams outside of their usual areas. It help keep employees working if their normal jobs have slowed down, and it provides valuable support to the organization in areas where there is need.

A lot of the time, the work being done is outside of the employee’s normal job description, and that can be challenging. It’s often not easy to do new things — especially not in the context of a pandemic.

But, once on the ground, team members deployed through the labor pool realized there was a lot of good in the experience.

“It has been an honor to support my heroes who are directly working with these COVID-19 Patients,” says Sleep Center team member Anthony Dauley.

Normally, the Sleep Centers in Puget Sound operate 24 beds in sleep labs at four hospitals, said Mikal Williams, regional manager of the Neurophysiology & Sleep Centers. With non-emergent procedures on hold, work in the Sleep Labs has been put on hold. Another part of the work that’s been suspended: home sleep tests where a patient gets their device and education in the lab then takes materials home for testing.

Most of the temporary jobs have involved screening at entrances, as well as fitting masks and office support work.

“The Regional Labor Pool meant going out to places where everyone knew they were going to be around health care providers interacting with patients who are sicker than what we usually see,” Williams says. “We’re asking our team to screen people at entrances, something very different than what you do in a sleep lab. We’re asking someone to stand at the front entrance and basically guard the people inside from people who might be carrying COVID-19. There was definitely some anxiety.”

Williams framed it to the team this way: “This is a call to action. We’re being asked to help in a situation that’s never happened before. I think the team understands that what they are doing is very important.”

Among those who stepped up is Dauley, a registered polysomnographic technologist (RPSGT) who normally works at the Auburn MultiCare Sleep Disorders Center. His new job has been working with other members of the labor pool to fit MultiCare employees with N95 masks in the Commencement wing of MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital.

“I have worked fitting CPAP masks on patients for 20 years and have a degree in Respiratory Therapy — so my skillset fit well for this task,” Dauley says. “I am happy to be fighting this bug war with the finest bug defenders Tacoma has to offer. I couldn’t be more proud of our team. “

The assignment has brought Dauley closer to people on the front lines of care. “I have seen some of our staff come through and I could see the fear in their eyes not knowing what they may see in the coming days,” Dauley says. “And then see the sense of relief on their faces when they are fitted with their masks and hearing some reassurance that not only are things under control, but that things are going to be ok if we just all do what we have been trained to do.”

Julie Larson, RPSGT, would normally be found at the Tacoma General/Mary Bridge Sleep Center. As part of the labor pool, Larson has found herself at MultiCare Pediatric Pulmonary Specialists and MultiCare Adult Pulmonary Specialists in Tacoma and MultiCare Family Practice Offices in Spanaway.

Larson has done a bit of everything, including helping to take temperatures and screen individuals entering the facilities.

“I’ve had the opportunity and privilege of seeing MultiCare at its best,” says Larson. “In all of the locations I worked, I was given a warm welcome and shown great hospitality. I’ve witnessed amazing teamwork and camaraderie. I felt proud working alongside these great men and women…these new friends.

“I’ve have also seen fear and uncertainty in the eyes of patients, visitors and staff as they face the unknowns of COVID-19,” Larson adds. “However, within the fear and uncertainty I saw trust: Trust in one another and trust in the workers that represent MultiCare.”