SHARE Member Spotlight: Marnie Doyle (Virtual Ambassador Program)

Marnie Doyle

Virtual Ambassador Program (Pedi Clinic), 5/11/20  

Marnie’s family visiting her Mom

Everyone’s got their personal stuff happening right now, so I’m not going to complain about it.  I’m very fortunate I was put in this position, and that I’m not sitting home.  My manager Maureen told me one Friday you don’t need to come back to clinic next week.  I was home a week and got the call.  I’m glad it happened.  I can’t complain because some people have been deployed to other shifts and tougher assignments.  So I feel very grateful and lucky, that’s how I look at it. 

As virtual ambassadors, our job is to call into patients’ rooms every day to see how they are doing, whether they need anything, and just connect with them, help them feel less isolated.  It’s a new program, and it’s a really great program.  I love it actually.  I was there for the first day – we trained in groups of six over the course of a day, then got started the next day.  We are divided into two rooms in the basement of the ACC building. 

We come in in the morning and get an assignment, dividing up the floors between us.  We piloted with just a few floors but now we’re calling everybody we can, basically – some patients can’t talk, obviously, and some of these new units don’t have room phones.  They have this whole system for us, Cipher, that makes it easy for us to see our notes from the previous day.  Most people are really, super appreciative.  A few say please don’t bother me again, and that’s ok, you’ll always get those.  We ask them if their cell phones are working, how they’re doing connecting with loved ones, whether they need anything, how they’re doing – we just try to have a human conversation really. 

I’m enjoying being the patient’s advocate, helping them get what they need.  I love that role.  They try to set things up such that we can call the same people every day, so we really develop a rapport – certain people even ask for you when someone else calls!  

I’d say most conversations are about 5 to 10 minutes long.  My longest was with this 94 year-old woman last week, she was teaching me all about World War II, we were on the phone 45 minutes.  Those are my favorite conversations – the ones where you can tell the person is just looking for some company.  It’s lonely here in the hospital, and I love that I can help people feel less alone, particularly the elderly.  Those are the ones that mean the most, because my mother is going through all of this too, and my family is going through it with her.   

Marnie and her friend Lisa

My Mom was at the Beaumont, so she was affected when they moved everyone out to make it a COVID facility.  She has dementia, so that was really hard.  She was moved, and it actually turned out fine, but then last week she tested positive.  She needs me right now.  If someone doesn’t have someone to advocate for them they can get lost in the system.  So making sure these patients don’t get lost really matters to me. 

There are so many people out there not working so I feel lucky that I can be, and that what I’m doing feels like it matters to people.  I know it’s not patient care but at the same time it sort of is, you know?  This older guy said to me the other day after we talked “you made my day”, and I just started crying, and then he started crying.  I love connecting with people like that.  You talk to a lot of people here who are homeless, who have nowhere to go, who have a really tough life outside of here.  Helping them feel better, that’s huge.  Like I say, the little things are the big things.  

We’ve got three SHARE members here, I think, the rest are nurses.  We’ve really gelled, and feel proud of the program.  One room asks the other whether they need anything so we can all get out of here at the end of the day.  I expect I’ll be here a little while, which is okay with me. 

Who am I most worried about?  I’m most worried about my mom.  I’ve got a phone call with the director of the place she’s at this afternoon.  You worry about everything.  You worry about bringing something home, too, to your family.  Everything.  Everything.    

My best friend of 25 years killed herself last year – this past Tuesday was the one-year anniversary.  She was a friend I grew up with and a nurse on 5 East for 20 years.  That has been a really hard thing to deal with and go and do my job every day.   

SHARE Member Spotlight: Vanessa Cadime (CNA)

Vanessa Cadime

CNA, Marlborough Hospital / Granger 1 & 2, 5/7/20

“We do our best to lighten the load for each other . . .”

I’m doing ok. I am hanging in there alongside the rest of my co-workers. Despite the major changes and added difficulties due to this world-wide crisis, I believe it’s important to stay calm and optimistic as we are all in this together! 

Ever since the crisis began, many things have changed around the workplace. For starters, we were so used to seeing visitors coming to visit their loved ones, bringing them meals or dropping off extra clothes. Now those patients who have sadly contracted the virus have to rely on FaceTime to see and hear from their family members. Oftentimes, it’s not the best circumstances, especially if they experiencing more severe symptoms, as nobody can really predict outcomes. We have been doing our best to console and comfort both patients and families during these unprecedented times. I had a patient not too long ago who was considered CMO (comfort measures only) — not COVID-19 related, but it was known he did not have much time left. A few other nurses and I surrounded his bedside, keeping a close watch while trying to comfort him as much as possible. We had the family on the phone and held it to his ear. Even though he could no longer speak, I know hearing their voices made it that much more special and reassuring for him. They spoke about all their great memories and how much they loved him. It was truly an emotional experience. We were all basically in tears! While trying to fight as long as he could, I believe he was able to pass in peace hearing the loving words of his family!  

With the current circumstances we face nowadays at work, it’s easy to feel more nervous or frustrated with heavier workloads. But I’m truly amazed at the incredible support and teamwork we’ve established within our department. We are so quick to help one another, despite being short-staffed or having tougher assignments. We do our best to lighten the load for each other. That truly says a lot about our devotion as healthcare professionals to make sure everyone is doing ok, whether it be our patients or co-workers! We call one another to check up on those who unfortunately tested positive. As I said before, we are all in this together and it couldn’t be more true!  I’m grateful and proud to work alongside some truly special people! #GrangerStrong, as we like to say! 

For me personally, I can’t help but wonder about the time I came down with flu-like symptoms back in February (just before the announcement on the news of this novel coronavirus). Was I possibly already exposed to the virus? I contemplated this because, at the time, I had just finished working four consecutive shifts at work. By the following morning, I knew something was off and I didn’t feel like myself. It took me by surprise, as I’m generally healthy and rarely catch colds. I had a lot of the typical symptoms: a fever that spiked to 103F, general weakness with body aches, the chills, and a lingering cough that turned into what almost felt like bronchitis as it became painful to cough at times. Even more convincing was when my flu swab came back negative. My symptoms lasted almost two weeks until I started feeling some relief, as I stayed home and tried to rest up as much as possible. I would be curious to know. I would like, at some point, to be tested for antibodies.  

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Since the pandemic, the dynamics of day-to-day life have changed dramatically. Social distancing and stay-at-home advisories have become the new normal. Businesses, restaurants, gyms, hair and nail salons that we are so accustomed to have been closed for months now. More home-cooked meals, daily improvised home workouts, Zoom meetings with friends and family, and the constant cleaning of surfaces and hand washing have never been more prevalent.  

Like everyone else, I’m most concerned about my parents and my 93-year-old grandmother. We’ve all been taking necessary precautions to ensure everyone is staying safe by wearing a mask and using gloves if there is a need to get out to buy groceries or get gas. I’ve had to adjust to more phone calls over personal visits as I’m trying to keep my distance as much as possible for the sake of their health while I’m still at work. 2020 has been a roller coaster of a year to say the least. I just hope and pray that this crisis ends sooner than later.  

SHARE Member Spotlight: Sara Gonzalez (CNA & Patient Transporter)

Sara Gonzalez

CNA and Patient Transporter, Marlborough Hospital / Surgical Day Care, 5/7/20

“The nurse behind me is Alison Belanger my girl.”

I work as a transporter, mainly for the OR. Now that there are fewer surgeries, I’m transporting patients for emergent surgeries and COVID patients, to and from radiology, to inpatient, wherever the transportation is needed.I am mentally and emotionally overwhelmed, and on an emotional roller-coaster. I get up every day, pray, work, drive home, cry, pray, get up the next day, dust it off, and keep moving. I’m grateful though. I’d rather come to work and help where help is needed than go home and wish I could help. It’s overwhelming for all of us, and we’re walking on eggshells because you never know. You aren’t safe anywhere, even though we take precautions.

Everyone I work with is amazing. We’re all ready to throw down with everybody. That’s what we’re called to do, especially in crazy time like this. Some of the staff have been here forever. It doesn’t take long to know we’re all family. I’m the new guy on the floor. The staff are awesome to me. They don’t make me feel less-than because I’m the transport girl. We’re family. Whatever they need me to do, if I can take pressure off of someone else, I'm going to do it. I'm hands-on. I'm ready and willing all the time. I'm not just a transporter.

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I try to talk to the COVID patients and give them words of encouragement. They can’t be in physical contact with their families, so I try to do what I can to encourage them, give them hope. Sometimes, I ask them how they’re doing and I can see it in their faces. They’re restless and shrugging their shoulders like, ‘How do you think I’m doing?’ I wish I could take away their pain. I wish I could heal them. We’re doing the best we can. Their bodies are fighting. We have to leave the rest of the work up to God.  The other day, I was talking to a patient, telling him I hoped he got better soon, and twenty minutes later they’re calling code blue. Anything can happen and it’s so overwhelming.

I get up every morning and thank God for a new day. I woke up. God knows who didn’t get to wake up. Every morning, I ask God to guide and protect me and all of my co-workers, all of the staff who’ve tested positive, ‘Please don’t let anything bad happen to them.’  I know we aren’t supposed to talk about our religious beliefs, but God fills my heart with peace. I listen to worship music on the way to work to get my head in a positive mood. Let’s do this again. We were built for this. Victory is around the corner. The whole world is in chaos and panic, but someone has to encourage people. Faith over fear. This is just another obstacle. We’re moving forward and I’ll be able to testify someday.

I worry about my grand kids though. I have a deep bond with them and they don’t understand why I can’t be with them. I have my heart in my hands. I don't want to bring anything home to my family. I have three teenagers and I worry. I went into a room yesterday and the patient didn’t want to go to her test. She was ripping off her mask and I’m melting in my suit. We’re taking our precautions but we’re also endangering ourselves. But, this is what I signed up for. We keep moving forward. No turning back. If everyone got scared and stayed home, who would be here for the patients?

But most of all, I just love my team.

“My son Jeramiah, my quarentenior, decorated the hats . . .

it keeps him busy away from thinking of how COVID 19 took his prom away and maybe even walking the stage for graduation . . .

but better to be safe than sorry, God is still good!!”

SHARE Member Spotlight: Ayodeji Dee Adeyinka, Mental Health Counselor

Ayodeji Dee Adeyinka

Mental Health Counselor + SHARE Executive Board Member, Marlborough Hospital / 3W, 5/6/20

Tracy, Ayodeji, and Tabitha: Marlborough Hospital Mental Health Counselors

My background is in the military, preparing citizen-soldiers for war and helping to ease the fears of deployed family members about them going to the war-front. I thought I knew heroes. Our staff at Marlborough Hospital seem like regular people you see coming in, day in and day out. I’ll tell my grandchildren about this someday, about people who kept standing tall every day.

What scared everyone was when we learned we were going to be a COVID unit. Metaphorically, our huddles are like the trenches. At the hospital, we have to be flexible because day to day we get different information. Our people are dynamic. We have excellent staff. As staff, we say things. There was a lot of fear at first. Some workers contacted the union through me or by contacting the organizer. We’re lucky the union got involved. We all spoke to our manager at length about our fear and the SHARE organizer was able to listen in on our staff meeting with management. Now, we have a plan. I feel like we’re lucky that management listens. Nothing is set in stone. I tell my director that we are the front-line. In the military, the front-line wins the war. The objectives are being carried out by us. We have to be flexible. Management may have a great strategy down on paper but we execute the strategy and we should be able to re-tool as we go.

In the mental health field, it's unpredictable. The patients can turn on you in a minute. Because of mental impairment, you have to continuously set limits. Even when a patient is in your face, it’s about that calm you bring. This COVID really solidified what I always felt, that these are special group of people to be in a locked-up unit with. They come in, day in and day out, and selflessly give. It's remarkable.  

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I am fortunate to be in the union which has an advocacy role and an oversight role. Advocacy for our peers and also to ensure that we're doing things well. As we become a COVID unit, it’s important that we have project-management. We need to set targets and have accountability. We need to have the opportunity to practice through simulations so that by the time you’re actually doing it you have it down to a science. In the military, the way you practice is the way you win wars—more victory, less death. Keep simulations simple and stupid. Let it become second nature. Always focus on continuous improvement. Nothing is static in nature. We have to check-in with ourselves periodically and ask, What are we doing well? What can we improve?

The motto of the Hospital is We're All Caregivers, from the janitor down to the CEO, the mental health counselor to the nurse. We’re all caregivers and we can all make a difference. I love America.

It’s remarkable what we've been doing. We have some of the best attention to detail, so we aren't going to spread this. I always say, you have to have patience. You have to love the job. For those whom much has been given, much is expected. You have to bring that compassion to bear. People who do well here are people who have that compassion. It’s a thankless job. All the sudden, a patient can lunge at you. We have to redirect. Patients may call us names, but we don’t take it personally. We look at the person, at their individuality. We brush off the names and the patients usually come back a day later to apologize. It takes a special person. You learn it. We have a lot of anxious situations. We have to stay calm to see things clearly. I’m grateful for every experience I go through. I try to look at the big picture of why I’m here.

I tell people who feel scared and don’t want to come to work that we have a union that cares about us. We have advocacy. We have people listening. Our managers listen and are continuously trying to get better. It’s participatory. We have leaders that are flexible. As we become a COVID unit, we know our leaders will be listening to us. If they don't, we have an advocate on our side that brings it forward to ensure our safety. The union can point out when we’ve tried protocols that aren’t working and can support us to try something new. 

As far as my personal life goes, as an empty-nester, it’s really hard to not see my grandchildren. We have two three-year-old twins we haven’t seen since this started. My wife is a nurse and we have to be careful. I want to see them. It's been a month and a half. They’re two towns over, but we’re seeing them on FaceTime. It’s painful--that's the toughest part. I hope we get through this. I miss normalcy. I miss church. I miss singing at choir. I miss having a beer and talking with the guys and just talking about the day.

SHARE Blog Roundup: Free Bachelors Degree, Member Spotlights, and What's Next

 Admin Pay & Labor Pool Extended through May 16th 

While many SHARE members are providing unprecedented patient care during the current COVID-19 surge, we have an eye on the future, and what’s coming next. In case you missed it, UMMMC leadership announced during its most recent town hall meeting that the current arrangement for Admin Pay and Labor Pool Redeployment will be extended through May 16th.  

UMass Memorial Re-Opening Plan 

The hospital is also working to develop its plan for re-opening services. This process will unfold and evolve as the COVID crisis de-escalates. We expect to learn more about that timeline in the coming week. SHARE members should not plan to report to work until they receive direction through their department managers to do so. If you work in an ambulatory area that announces plans to re-open before May 16th, please let your SHARE organizer or the SHARE office know, so that we can keep close tabs on this first wave of re-openings. 

Although much of the plan is still being developed, SHARE and hospital management agree that caregiver safety is a top priority. SHARE has been assured that the overarching plan will be managed centrally by hospital leadership, with close attention to public health guidelines, including physical distancing, personal protective equipment, continued work-from-home arrangements, and other measures to mitigate exposure risk. 

SHARE Member Spotlight 

Work is different now. This week, the SHARE Blog profiles the experience of six more members: 

• Joshua, Mental Health Associate 

• Rich, Radiology Technologist 

• John, Clinical Laboratory Assistant 

• Jason, Administrative Tech 

• Annette, Specialty A/R Coordinator 

• Cathy, Financial Counselor 

New Blog Highlights: Free College & Pushing Congress to Support the Front Lines 

Note also that the SHARE blog points to a limited-time offer to enroll in a FREE online bachelor’s degree program, and describes the current union push for economic essentials to support American workers. 

Thank You 

We’re keeping ahead of COVID-19 with inspired teamwork, appropriate PPE, and compassionate care for the surge of COVID-positive patients. It hasn’t been easy. And there’s much more to do. As always, you’re taking care of yourselves, your families, and Central Massachusetts, and keeping our hospital running strong in the process. Thank you.   

Check out this week’s Spotlights to hear firsthand how SHARE members, including the Financial Counselors at 306 Belmont Street, have been dealing with the COVID surge.

SHARE Member Spotlights: Joshua (PTRC), Rich (UMMMC Diagnostic Radiololgy), and John (Marlborough Clinical Labs)

SHARE members in roughly 180 hospital job titles keep our hospital running strong during COVID-19 surge. Three more SHARE members describe their experience here . . .

Joshua Resch

Mental Health Associate, PTRC (Psychiatric Treatment Center), 4/29/20

Note: PTRC transitioned to an all COVID-positive unit several weeks ago, after a number of patients came down with COVID-19 and were transferred to University for medical treatment. 

A lot of us understand the field of inpatient psychiatry, but now the whole game is changed. It’s no longer just about the patient and their condition, whether they are manic, or whatever. We still try to reach out to the patient, talk with them about what they care about, encourage them, talk them down if they are elevated. Now all our interactions come with another thread: We are much more guarded, like if the patient is angry, we take a few steps back to see where the situation goes. It’s a new way of thinking, to find an approach that helps the patient but also protects ourselves and the patient from the disease. 

Unfortunately, it was like guerilla warfare when COVID spread in our department. One day you’d talk to a patient or a co-worker, and the next day they were sick, or you were taking the patient to the ED. We watched our patients dwindle down to just 2. It was remarkable, and I’m so curious: What is it about these 2 patients that they didn’t get sick? And 4 or 5 of the staff didn’t get sick – we were the last people standing.  

Who knows, maybe we did get sick and we were asymptomatic. We aren’t allowed to get tested unless we have symptoms, so it’s confusing. 

A lot of my co-workers come from other countries, and their parents live with them. They are very worried about bringing the virus home and getting them sick. 

Some nurses and I volunteer to observe our co-workers taking off and putting on their PPE. It seems ridiculous to say, “Nope, you did that wrong, you have to wash your hands and do it again.” But it’s important. 

We are really making sure we have each other’s back. If someone needs to go to the bathroom, you know it’s going to be a 15 minute process. 

I think now my co-workers and I are finding ways of creating some humor, we rag on each other more than usual. We’re all still scared, but the humor helps. Hazard pay would help too! 

Who are those masked men? They’re the heroes who serve as Mental Health Associates at the PTRC

RICH LEUFSTEDT

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY TECHNOLOGIST & SHARE Rep, UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, 4/27/20 

At University, we’re a Level-One Trauma Center. We can see anything, and we usually do. Now, things blur together, and I lose track of the days. It’s chest X-Ray after chest X-Ray after chest X-Ray all day long. We’re almost entirely seeing presumed-positive COVID patients. With all of the infection control procedures, those scans that usually take five minutes now take twenty. It’s a grind. 

I really appreciate that other Technologists are coming in to help the Diagnostic Techs, like the people from Mammography who are working as Radiology Assistants right now. We can really use more relief. There’s no admin leave for the X-Ray Techs. Even if we’re out sick with non-COVID symptoms, it’s impossible to have a restful day because Employee Health has to follow up our symptoms. We feel burnt out. 

I worry about the back load that’s coming, too – where are the patients that we usually scan? What's happening that we don’t know about? 

Coming home at the end of the day it’s a scary routine to try to leave all the germs outside my home and get cleaned up. I do this job because I want to help. But would I have gone into this career twenty years ago if I had known that I’d be on the front lines like this one day, with these odds of bringing home a potentially deadly disease to my family? 

I have faith. Every morning I see the sunrise and think, “We’ve got this.” But still, It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

Do you recognize this song leader from past SHARE rallies even in his PPE? He rocks the ukelele, but he also helps saves lives on the front line.

John Kendall

Clinical Laboratory Assistant & SHARE Representative, Marlborough Hospital, 4/29/20

I spent twenty-eight with the Southborough Fire Department and retired as a Lieutenant. As a firefighter, I wasn't afraid to go in. I had respect for the fire -- this is different. With Covid-19, I'm constantly asking myself, Is my mask on right? Am I covered up?' It's very stressful going into the room, and it's just one patient. In addition to the floors, we've been overrun by the tent. The other day, we had 128 patients in the tent.

It's not just us in the labs who are overwhelmed and worried about getting sick. It's the CNA's, the nurses, and the docs too. We don't want to carry this virus home. Nobody knows that much about it. From what I can see it's a savage virus, and I have health issues of my own. I don't want to get it. I have a grandbaby coming. The baby's due this weekend and I'm not going to be able to see her. Neither will my wife Leslie who works in ED Registration at the hospital. FaceTime isn't the same as being there. This will be our third. 

What I miss most right now is the lack of personal connection I'm used to getting with my patients. We have elderly patients who come in regularly, usually in the morning. Usually I draw them and chat with them for a few minutes. We can't do that now. We have to spend as little time as possible. You do what you have to do to get in and out safely. You can't be personal. 

It's been a tough job, but we're all in it together and I can't wait for this to be over.

Monika, John, and Katianny at Marlborough Hospital

For a Limited Time: Free Online Bachelor's Degree Program

Free Bachelor's Degree Completion Program

In response to the current economic and health uncertainty, AFSCME, for a limited time, is offering this normally low-cost benefit completely for free! All students who begin or continue their academic program with the Summer term are eligible for a last-dollar scholarship, which allows students to complete their degree (through graduation) with no out-of-pocket cost for tuition, fees, or e-books. So, don't delay - enroll in the summer term today.

You must enroll by May 18, 2020 to take advantage of this free opportunity. Learn more:

• general overview

• participant interest form

Unions Push for America’s Five Economic Essentials

SHARE’s parent union, AFSCME, along with the whole AFL-CIO, sent a letter to leaders of Congress to push for funding for the front line in the COVID-19 crisis. “America’s Five Economic Essentials” prioritizes the needs of working families over corporations.  

The main ideas are important for SHARE members, for Massachusetts, and across the country: 

1. Protecting front-line workers by providing increased access to PPE, testing, paid sick leave, hazard pay, etc. 

1. Keeping America Healthy by expanding access to health insurance, and providing financial support for hospitals 

1. Keeping workers employed and protecting pensions 

1. Providing state and local government funding to support schools and the postal service 

1. Hiring people to build infrastructure 

In the coming days, AFSCME is sending an email to all members asking us to write our members of Congress urging them to support the Five Essentials.  

To learn more now, you can read the full letter below. Keep your eyes peeled for an email from AFSCME! 

SHARE Member Spotlights: Jason (Marlborough ED), Annette (UMMMC Hospital Billing), and Cathy (UMMMC Financial Counseling)

The surge is now. Many SHARE members are dealing firsthand to make sure patients get the best care during what we hope will be the peak of the COVID-19 cases here in Central Mass. Our hospital would not be the same without each one of us. Below, we check in with members from two more sites in our hospital network . . .

Jason Trenkle

Administrative Tech & SHARE Executive Board Member, Marlborough Emergency Department, 4/29/20

We were in a really good place at the start of this. We were able to get a lot of people trained and up to speed and everyone was very flexible. I'm sure we all experienced the same machine gun fire of new protocols that kept coming at us. We'd be told one thing, then five seconds later we'd be told something else. That seemed to get people together quickly. I'm proud of how we've been able to handle this so far. 

The honeymoon period of over-staffing, over-training and lots of info has slowed, though, as patient-load has kicked up. People are ever so-slightly clipped, trying to get a lot done and trying to stay focused. Anytime I've had a negative experience though, I can look back on it and understand where it was coming from. Sometimes, I pass people in the hall and am surprised when they seem frustrated with me out of nowhere. Then I remember that they're up to their necks in work, too, and maybe I was being a little too cheery for that moment. Now, I'm trying to be more focused and read the situation better. People are strained and I know it's not personal when we get short with each other. 

Other times, I've felt helpless. The other day, everything was slow and we were all pretty relaxed until noon came and patients started pouring in on both ends. All the sudden, we were intubating two people at once, and we didn't have everything we needed. People were really frustrated, so I tried to focus on what was needed two steps down and make it easier for the staff. I try to focus the best I can, despite the tension. 

One of the most memorable moments so far is one of the first intubations I was present for. I was outside the door being a gofer and testing all of our new techniques. It was stressful trying to get an old baby monitor with a grainy image to work properly to help people outside the room interact with people inside the room. It's a hard wooden door, there are tons of PPE and hoods, It's hard to communicate through all of that, but we're trying to limit exposure as much as possible. During that first intubation of a COVID-19 patient, it was like, 'OK, this is happening. Ready. Set. Go.' People jumped into it, muttering to themselves all the steps, trying to get it right. And I'm trying to get everyone to doff and don everything properly. The docs are so practiced but sometimes they forget. I try to take care of all if it, but it's hard not to be on edge just to do very simple things. I'm trying to be as efficient as possible but I realize sometimes that I'm taking longer because I'm rushing. I tell myself, 'Just take a breath and see a couple steps ahead. I need to do this, so I can do that.'

The hardest part is that you're never really ready for it. Maybe that's just the ER. We go from zero to one hundred. The day will start off slow and then lunch hits and there's six more patients than when I left half an hour ago. It can turn on a dime and you need to be able to perform at your peak and get everything done and then all the sudden 3 o'clock comes. I don't feel done, but, I've got to go home. I've got to get outta here. The next shift is here. Then I'm heading home and trying to come down, but it's not always that easy. My husband works 9a-5p and lives off of the news. He turns it on as soon as he gets home. It's always stories from other hospitals where it's just dire. When there are touching stories, I try not to weep like a baby. I try to take myself out of the moment for a while. I just look out the window and focus on my breathing. I'm trying to be strong for my family and not put too much on them. I'm trying to be strong for my husband, so that he's not too stressed out. Sometimes it's hard. After four days on, I really get tired and my defenses fall. I feel guilty about that though. So many people are working many more hours than that. I know of a nurse who was hired to work in New York City for 80+ hours a week. It makes me feel silly to say I'm burned out and emotionally pushed. I guess there are a lot of mountains and valleys. I find comfort in being able to go to work and focus on the here and now. But, when I go home I worry about the global scale of this. I worry about the implications, not just financially, but what its going to do to our culture. I worry about all kinds of things that could morph from this. I'm ready to get back to my normal life. I also feel guilty for wanting that, but I want to play soccer with my friends. I want to be able to play pick-up games at the park.

I feel grateful for my mornings though. I get in it's 6:45 a.m. when the town hasn't really woken up yet. There usually aren't that many patients and we all get a moment to commiserate about the day before over a cup of coffee. For a moment, it feels normal. Even through the rest of the shift feels totally bonkers and the outside world feels completely different. It feels like our jobs haven't changed, there's just a ton of new protocol. It feels still and it's nice. I'm grateful that even though the world has changed that that part of the day is totally the same.

ANNETTE MACHUNSKY

SPECIALTY A/R COORDINATOR & SHARE Representative, 306 BELMONT ST, 4/28/20 

When this all started, most of the rest of my co-workers got sent to work from home for social distancing. Our department of over thirty people shrank to two of us in the department in our building. Only Mary and I kept working here on-site. I focused on the attorney letters. 

Eventually, Mary went to work from home, too, and I was left to myself. The whole team was back home generating paperwork, and checking-in with me to see what was happening with their work. I had to handle all the physical stuff for the department, printing things out.  

It was hard. Printers were broken. I worked with that. I spent all day walking from one end of the building to the other and back. I did miles of steps.  

I’m a hard worker. I take real pride in what I do. So when my manager asked why things weren’t getting done, I needed windshield wipers to handle the tears. “It’s just printing,” she said. But it wasn’t. I can do most anything, and I know it. I definitely didn’t want to seem weak. 

But I’m very vocal. My manager came back into the building to work at it, too, and so did my supervisor. Even the three of us barely made a dent. It takes a village.  

Now things are turned around. Seeing I.S. come in was amazing. Angela has taken over the work I was originally doing. Anna and Katie came back into the department for a couple of days to help catch up. Buffie and I are still working at it together. In the end, probably twenty full boxes of paper got printed. The scanning team -- Tyler and Jaycie – they’ve been doing all of their own work, and then some.  

Our Director made a good point: the payors are now pushing out deadlines, but we haven’t missed a beat, and we’re catching up to make sure that our hospital gets paid every penny for the care we give. We need it to survive. Everybody’s working together to bring the money in. It was great to hear Eric Dickson thank the finance team in the Townhall meeting last week. 

I want to give every person a shout out. There’s no “I” in “team.” My favorite thing is all of the positivity. Valerie works in Pre-Billing, and her humor gets me through the day. There aren’t many of us here on-site, but the team lines are blurring. We’re like a family. I don’t feel alone. Everyone is helping everyone else. I’m never going to be a nail that you’re going to hammer down, but being in SHARE helps me be up front. Being a SHARE Rep gives me more ways to help others.

Holding down the fort in Hospital Billing; Tyler, Angela, Annette, Buffie, Jaycie, and Valerie,

Cathy Conway

Financial Counselor, 306 Belmont St, 4/28/20

Several weeks ago, Financial Counselors, department leadership and SHARE organizers joined on a WebEx to discuss next steps for determining who would work from home and who would continue to work on site in order to make sure that patients were signing up for health insurance through the pandemic. It was the second time in several weeks that management had pulled the staff together to explain what was going on and to present the staff with choices about where they wanted to work. 

"We've always been essential. But this time, it felt different. By giving us a choice, they were saying us, 'You're essential, but how do you feel?'‘“Cathy's worked at UMass for twenty-seven years, and the conversations the department's had during the pandemic have made her feel more valued than ever.

"Management jumped through hoops in order to get us the equipment to work from home and operate the call center from home. They went out on a limb for us. Mass Health has worked with us, too. We have more flexibility in how we process paperwork. That helps us to do our jobs. We have to make sure the patents are comfortable, and that their bills are paid, but we have to make sure the hospital is being paid, too."

Cathy is one of the staff who chose to work onsite, which her co-workers are really grateful for so that those of them who are immuno-compromised can continue to work from home a bit longer. 

"Am I afraid? Not really. We do as much through the phones as we can. We still go into patient's rooms. We have to wear masks and wash our hands but we still have to help people get health insurance."

For Cathy, another thing that's felt special is that, "The whole hospital system has pulled together. Everyone's passing out masks, snacks and water. They have two surge-nurses coming around and asking us if we want coffee or tea! Can you imagine? That may be no big deal to some people, but I think it's wonderful. It may be just a little tiny thing, but it feels like we're sticking together. It feels like we're unified. We are proud to be part of this organization!"

Superheroes/Financial Counselors Mabelle Villegas, Sandra Dasilva, and Cathy Conway

We Are In this Together, an Open Letter to SHARE Members

Dear SHARE Member, 

You are not alone. That remains as true as ever. We’re all in a homegrown union with over 3,000 SHARE members. Together, we’ve spent more than 20 years cultivating a culture of caring.  

Things now are hard. And we’re here to support each other. If you need help, please reach out. If you see that someone else needs help, reach out. As a union, we lean on each other, assess situations together, brainstorm solutions and escalate problems when we get stuck. 

We may not know for sure what’s coming tomorrow, but we do know how to move forward together. Here’s how to do that: 

Take Care of Yourself First.   

When you’re on a plane, the flight crew advises to first take the oxygen mask for yourself before you help anyone else. That same principle is true now. SHARE members come to work in healthcare because we want to help others. However, you can’t care for your family, your community, your patients, and each other unless you have your basic needs met first.  

Ask for Help.  

If you’re struggling and need someone to talk to -- whether it’s about stress, finances, PPE, or something else -- we are here. Nowadays, SHARE organizers spend much of our time on the phones and in email talking with members about how things are going. That helps us know how to advocate for system improvements in our daily conversations with hospital leaders. It also helps us connect members who may be able to help one another, and with other helpful resources. 

Please keep these contact numbers handy: 

• SHARE: (508) 929-4020 (or, see the complete list of SHARE Organizer contacts) 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): (800) 322-5327 

• Employee Health: (508) 793-6400 

• UMass Memorial Caregiver Support Line: (508) 334-HELP 

You can also find many resources and perks for caregivers on the SHARE website: #gettinghelp 

Speak Up.   

Around the SHARE office, we talk about each of us having an “internal smoke alarm.” You may not know the source of the smoke -- it could just be that someone in the other room is burning the popcorn again. But it could be more serious. If your internal smoke alarm is sounding, please know you have a network around you, including trusted friends, your co-workers, your manager, Human Resources, the elected SHARE Rep in your area, and the SHARE staff organizers.  

Your voice matters. Speaking up can be scary, and it can sometimes be hard to figure out what to say and who to say it to. We’re here to help. Things in our hospital need to move fast, but they need to move thoughtfully, too.  

Take Care of Each Other.   

In many ways, confronting the current challenges will be unifying. However, those same stresses can also make it hard to get along. We may snap at each other, shut down, or show other signs of distress. Let’s be sure to reduce our collective stress by assuming each other’s best intentions. Sometimes, the best thing will be to offer to help. Or to simply provide a kind gesture.    

Pause and Breathe. 

Taking a moment to find something happening right now that you appreciate or that inspires you is a powerful and effective coping tool. Together, our hospital is turning out story after story of bravery, compassion, and teamwork. Hospital processes that have been caught up in gridlock for as long as some of us can remember have kicked into gear, sometimes overnight. Our community is coming together in resourceful ways to move forward in this critical time.  

Know that you are not alone.  

If you need help, reach out. If you see someone who needs help, reach out. We are in this together. 

Sincerely, 

The SHARE Organizing Staff 

p.s., The SHARE blog has added new posts this week, including:

• The above-mentioned post with new resources, perks, and deals for caregivers, 

• Hazard Pay in the news, 

• A fresh roundup of other news stories you might have overlooked, and  

• Advice for safely handling the germ-carrying device that goes with you everywhere: your mobile phone. 

In Recent News

There’s a lot to keep up with in the news nowadays. Here’s a summary roundup of recent news stories that are particularly pertinent to SHARE members . . . 

Donations to the Ease Fund 

Kudos to CEO Eric Dickson for committing his full income to the Ease Fund. MassLive reports: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Eric Dickson, the CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care, and Dr. Cathy Jones, Dicksons’ wife and a UMass Memorial physician, are donating all of their paychecks to the health care system’s employee assistance fund.” Other hospital leaders, including Chief Administrative Officer Doug Brown, have made similar pledges. 

The Ease Fund is administered and distributed by the Employee Assistance Program to provide aid. The fund is one of their many ways to help employees of UMass Memorial through financial hardship, The EAP website also provides many other COVID-19 related resources.  

Locals Focus on Global Problems 

We’re excited to recognize the work that’s being done in our back yard toward the prevention and treatment of coronavirus. M2D2, a collaboration involving UMass Medical School and UMass Lowell, has shifted much of its focus to potential vaccines, testing research, and medical device design related to COVID-19, according to the UMass Lowell News. 

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reports that UMass Memorial is one of three hospitals in Massachusetts to receive approval to launch the first US clinical trial of a Japanese flu drug that could be used to treat COVID-19. 

Some Good Financial News at UMass Memorial 

In this recent interview on the Greater Boston television show, UMass Memorial CEO describes our preparedness for COVID-19 here in Central Mass.  

UMass Memorial has had some good fortune and been forward thinking in its approach to keeping its employees paid for the time being. In a recent town-hall meeting, hospital leaders described how last year’s sale of its pharmacy management joint ventures has provided liquid assets to help our hospital respond to the crisis. The funds had not yet been re-invested in the stock market (phew!). The investments in much-needed equipment and facility upgrades will still need to come from somewhere, but that cash-on-hand helps our hospital to be somewhat more nimble than it might otherwise have been.  

In other fortunate financial news, the Telegram reports that “Mapfre Insurance. . . announced a donation of $2.3 million across five Massachusetts-based organizations – including UMass Memorial Health Care and Harrington HealthCare. The insurance company has committed $38 million worldwide to medical providers and communities.” 

COVID-19 and the Financial Health of Hospitals 

The broader news across US hospitals is more grim. The Guardian reports that the United States for-profit healthcare sector has cut thousands of jobs in the wake of the coronavirus. 

Becker’s Hospital Review recently pointed to another disturbing cost-cutting measure, writing that “Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, which operates 65 hospitals across the U.S., is postponing match payments to employees' 401(k) savings plans to direct more resources toward hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.”  

Although SHARE was encouraged to see the precedent set as AFSCME Council 93 and Governor Baker came to an agreement about hazard pay for some of their union’s hospital members, we also note this report in Becker’s that Boston-based Partners Healthcare has announced that it will not make hazard pay available to frontline staff. 

To Be Continued. . .  

SHARE will continue to keep its eye on trends, as we keep our focus on the day-to-day life of our own hospital. Right now, this especially includes UMass Memorial’s Labor Pool program. This redeployment system has been another major factor in the hospital’s ability to keep employees on the books. Although the Labor Pool is proving to be a complicated process to implement, and continues to evolve, it’s helping to maintain jobs . . . and to provide help to those areas where the workloads are increasing, where patients and the SHARE members who care for them most need the help.  

As always, thank you for the work you do to keep our hospital, our community, and our union running strong. 

Caring for You: Resources & Perks for SHARE Members

Caring for ourselves, our families, and our community involves all kinds of new challenges, but we’re here to support one another. Below, you’ll find helpful resources for taking care of yourself and your family, as well as perks and deals that the community has offered up to show appreciation for the work that you do as caregivers.  

Resources from UMass Memorial

UMass Memorial itself offers many resources for its employees. As announced in recent Command Center emails. The Caring for the Caregiver program provides resources, such as virtual peer support, wellness apps, child care assistance, and discounted accommodations for caregivers. More information on these programs is available on our Caring for the Caregiver page. 

• Sign Up to Receive Care Texts: Care Texts were launched today as a part of our Caring for the Caregiver efforts. These short, to-the-point daily texts are designed to support you with wellness resources and other inspiring ideas. To sign up, text CARE to 81411. UMass Memorial-issued phones will receive them automatically, and you can opt out at any time. Visit the Hub to learn more. 

• UMass Memorial Caregiver Support Line: Caregivers seeking peer support, family services, mental health resources, spiritual care, help finding online wellness resources, or just a place to talk can call 508-334-HELP. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. 

• Groceries 2 Go: The cafeteria on the University Campus continues to offer a convenient Grocery 2 Go pick-up service for on-site caregivers. The service will be offered at a later date on the Memorial Campus. Visit Hub news for more details on how to place an order.  

• Music for Resilience: Now more than ever is the time to use your music to help you rest, release, or reboot. Curious? Jump on Zoom and come check it out: Fridays at 5pm and Mondays at 4pm.  Have a piece of paper and some colors handy. Recommended, but not required, headphones or earbuds and a way to access your preferred music choices (YouTube, Spotify, or however you store your music). You may need to have Zoom downloaded on your computer or phone in advance. Here’s the Zoom link: https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/97730895460 

• Employee Assistance Program: As always, the hospital’s free and confidential EAP service is here to support SHARE members and the hospital community. Many additional coronavirus-specific resources are currently listed on the EAP website. 

A Few More Odds & Ends 

• The Average Socialite website publishes an ongoing list of perks and freebies for healthcare workers 

• Thrillist collects up a similar list of nationwide chains offering free food for healthcare workers 

• This one’s not for caregivers exclusively, but if you’re also homeschooling right now, you might appreciate this thorough roundup of children’s authors and illustrators hosting online storytime sessions 

• Popular mindfulness and meditation apps including Headspace and Ten Percent Happier currently offer free premium memberships to healthcare workers to help during the COVID-19 crisis 

• In case you missed it, the SHARE blog also previously rounded up this collection of resources that can be helpful to SHARE members during hard times.  

Do you know of other aids or deals for caregivers that could benefit SHARE members? Please let us know. And keep your eye on this blog as well as the SHARE homepage. As we learn of more opportunities, we’ll be sure to post them.  

Your Phone and Coronavirus

There’s been concern in our hospital about the use of cell phones at work. It’s always safest to keep them stored away and free from potential contamination. However, some SHARE members may be required by the nature of their job to communicate on a mobile phone. And we all need to be mindful of the potential for the things that we handle to convey the coronavirus and other pathogens.

Coronavirus may be able to live on your phone for several days. Whenever possible, keep it stored away at work and in public, and clean it regularly.

If you have questions about the appropriate use of your cell phone at work, you should consult your manager, and abide by infection control guidelines established by our hospital. That said . . .

Phone Protective Equipment?

Here’s a short video presented by a physician who uses a simple ziplocking bag as a kind of PPE device for her phone, especially since it's one of the only items that travels with her between work and home. She recommends using the speaker on the phone to avoid having to bring the phone near her face.

Cleaning Your Phone

CNET reports a list of dos and don’ts for effective phone-friendly disinfection.

Additionally, this lighthearted Public Service Announcement, which derives its advice from the British Broadcasting Corporation, describes an alternative cleaning method using mild soap and a soft cloth. This video notes:

• In a 2012 University of Arizona study, cell phones were found to carry ten times the amount of bacteria found on the average toilet seat.

• Any wipes used on your your phone should contain at least 70% isopropyl alcohol, and be non-abrasive.

• Cleaning chemicals should not be applied to your device, since they can ruin protective layers on the screen.

Stay safe!

Hazard Pay in the News: SHARE Update

Many SHARE members have been wondering about the recent news reports about the hazard pay agreement negotiated between Governor Baker and a segment of the AFSCME Council 93 union. Although that does not pertain to SHARE members, it could be a helpful precedent for us. Here’s what you should know now:  

The Hazard Pay Reported Does Not Apply to Most Hospitals 

That hazard pay does not apply to any employees at UMass Memorial. The union representing some public healthcare workers negotiated this directly with the State. The public sector employees involved in that agreement get most, if not all, of their funding through the state.  

Advocating for Hazard Pay at UMass Memorial 

SHARE believes that hospital employees should be recognized for the risks and contributions they make for our community, and hazard pay would be a good way to do that.  

SHARE and several other UMass Memorial unions have been are talking with UMass Memorial management, making the case that giving hazard pay for healthcare employees is the right thing to do.  

Multiple Concerns 

Some SHARE members have had concerns about having the right PPE to be safe at work. We are addressing those issues with UMass Memorial leadership as they come up, to ensure that SHARE members who have direct contact with patients have the right protection.  

In addition to advocating for PPE and hazard pay, SHARE is working to make sure that all members continue to get a paycheck. The hospital has committed to paying employees who remain in the Labor Pool up to May 2nd, and we want people to continue being paid throughout the COVID crisis. Although many hospitals across the state and the country are furloughing and laying off hospital workers, our hospital has worked out a labor pool system that is aimed to help keep everyone at work. We are working to help make sure that it’s implemented as fairly, safely, and as sustainably as possible so that it can continue after May 2. We are meeting weekly with management to achieve this. 

More to Come 

We will continue to talk with UMass Memorial management about hazard pay and other issues, and we will keep you posted about our progress. If you would like to talk about this or anything else, please contact your local SHARE Rep, your SHARE organizer, or call and leave a message at the SHARE office (508-929-4020). 

SHARE BLOG ROUNDUP: SHARE Member Spotlight, Caregiver Survey Deadline, and Resources for Finding Help During Hard Times

As the numbers of COVID-19 positive cases continue to increase, SHARE members are having a broad range of experiences – working on the front line, coming to work with reduced work to do, working from home, waiting for potential redeployment to the Labor Pool. There are still a bunch of unanswered questions. SHARE leadership continues to be in regular conversation with members and with hospital leadership about an evolving list of difficult issues. SHARE organizers will continue to advocate for answers that best serve SHARE members. We know that there’s a real need for clear answers to these questions, and we’ll continue to provide you the best information we have.

SHARE MEMBER PERSPECTIVES: COVID-19 at the FRONT LINE

SHARE members perform crucial roles as UMass Memorial faces the oncoming coronavirus surge. Many, including members of SHARE’s elected leadership team are caring for COVID-19-positive patients firsthand. We recently talked to: 

• Kona Enders, a PCA and long-time SHARE Rep, has had her work moved to 3 Lakeside Short Stay, where positive patients are currently being cohorted.  

• SHARE Executive Board Member Joel Masley works directly with breathing difficulties in his role as a Respiratory Therapist, and is preparing the equipment to handle even more. And,  

• SHARE member Prestine Frazier works the front desk in Employee Health, helping caregivers to get the assessments and care that they need.  

We asked all three of them to describe from their vantage point how things are going in this collection of SHARE Member Spotlights. 

FINAL CAREGIVER SURVEY DEADLINE: TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT 

Please note that TODAY is the final day to complete the Caregiver Engagement Survey. We urge you to spend five to ten minutes providing your perspective. Press Ganey is administering the survey on behalf of UMass Memorial. It is short, easy, completely confidential, and the results will help SHARE continue to refine its priorities as we work with our hospital to adapt to the changes that the coronavirus is forcing across hospitals everywhere. 

HELPFUL RESOURCES for HANDLING HARDSHIP 

Although we’re glad that our hospital currently has the financial stability to avoid the kinds of layoffs and furloughs that some hospitals are experiencing, the coronavirus crisis is already creating difficult situations in our community. We’ve compiled this list of resources for hard times, including: 

• Information about Massachusetts’ recently-revised Unemployment Insurance guidelines for those of you who have friends and family who have lost work,

• The Federal Stimulus package, and what it might mean for you, and  

• A wide array of links to financial, legal, medical, and nutritional assistance, and more. 

STAYING CONNECTED 

It remains as important as ever for our union to stick together. We'd really appreciate your help making sure that these messages are getting through to as many SHARE members as possible. Sometimes, we have incorrect email addresses -- if anyone you know isn't getting our emails, please send us their correct email address or have them contact us at SHARE.comment@theshareunion.org. Thank you. 

SHARE Member Spotlights: Kona (PCA), Prestine (Medical Admin Secretary) & Joel (RT)

Reports from the Front Line

During the COVID-19 Crisis

SHARE members are responding to COVID-19 as true heroes. For a long time, the mounting pressures in healthcare have made it increasingly difficult to provide the highest quality patient care. Now, adapting to the oncoming coronavirus surge has only amplified the challenges.

At the same time, we’re seeing inspiring displays of teamwork, innovation, and compassion throughout our hospital. Here, we’ve asked SHARE member Prestine Frazier, Executive Board member Joel Masley ,and long-time SHARE Rep Kona Enders how things are going for them, and what things look like from their perspective.

Joel Masley

Respiratory TherapIst, University Campus, 3/31/20 

Joel Masley

Things are busy!  In addition to taking care of patients, I’ve been helping get our department’s equipment ready for the surge.  I’ve been working a lot with our new equipment tech, Michael.  He’s awesome.  It’s his second week, we’re really lucky we got him.  We’re staging different parts, vent tubes, stuff to tie tubes, neb bags, stuff like that.  And we’re working on standardizing all our carts in all the different locations where we’re setting up so that they can be used by everyone the same way.  We did a video for critical care nurses to watch on vents, nebs, put a cleaning module together for our people.  We redid a BiPap machine so it can work as a vent, and hooked up a vent that can work on two people at once.  We put those downstairs so people can play around with them now and see how they work.  We’re doing everything we can to get ready for whatever’s coming.

The last couple of weeks have been mentally and physically tiring, but the teamwork has really been exceptional between all the different roles, everyone is overlapping and helping each other.  Everyone’s preparing for the worst case scenario, but really for the most part people are gelling together.  And people are working hard to keep things cheery, too – for the most part people are being really good and generous with each other.  I love the stuff coming in from outside, from people saying thank you. Like today Dunkin brought some stuff in for us, that was great.  It feels like everyone’s pulling together to get the job done and take care of each other, you know?

EBS has been so good, they’re wiping everything down, doing such a thorough job.  They are the real unsung heroes – they are an integral part of keeping us all safe and healthy.  So there’s a whole team of people coming together to accomplish things, getting things done, that’s kind of neat.

People are nervous about protective gear, about how many vents we’re going to do.  They’re looking at New York, and waiting for the surge is hard – the next two weeks will be the telltale.  But it’s not all doom and gloom, we’re really helping people.  People think getting on a vent is a death sentence, but it’s not.  One person just got extubated today.  We’re seeing people get better now, so that’s a really good feeling, encouraging for what’s coming.

The reassigned staff seem like the ones who are most nervous right now, because they’re not sure what it will be like.  We’ve got like 7 therapists coming up from the pulmonary lab.  Or nurses from the clinics.

The most memorable moment for me from the last couple weeks was watching someone who was getting ruled out, and his wife couldn’t stay with him, she was extremely upset and wanted to be with him, that was tough, kind of an awakening for me.  How would I feel in her position?  That stuck out for me. 

Prestine Frazier

Medical Admin Secretary, Employee Health Clinic, 3/31/20

We are straight-out busy. It's been a journey trying to get things in order, but it's coming along. They have put some processes in place like a phone tree and the COVID call-center on Front Street: nurses triage calls from there, and Doctors are also there to help. Everyone has pulled together and we are working as a Team. An admin from another dept I had volunteered to help with Data Entry. Everyone has jumped in to help!

Kona Enders

PCA2, University Campus, 3/31/20

Kona Enders with SHARE Staff Organizer Will Erickson

We are working so differently than we were. A lot of people were afraid because there wasn’t a lot of notice that we were moving to another unit [Kona and the other staff in her area were recently transferred to 3 Lakeside Short Stay]. It was really hard at first because we are working so differently. It was hard on the nurses and the PCAs.  The doctors and everyone keep saying that we have to decrease the foot traffic in the rooms.  It is hard because we can’t have the conversations with the patients like we always did and spend time with them. I was kind of dancing around outside one of the doors to a patient  being a little silly and the patient said, ‘That just made my day!’ 

We feel very supported. Maggie the NP who works with Dr. Myers, will bring us food or snacks. Or we get things from other floors. They are thinking of us.  Cardiac Surgery always checks on us.

One of the greatest tools that was implemented was when you are logged onto the computer it will say whatever any patient, or nurse, or PCA or MD needs right across the screen. So who ever has a computer in front of them can help that person in the patient’s room. It really feels like more teamwork!

Resources to Help SHARE Members Handle Hard Times

As you work the front lines, you are, as always, helping in invaluable ways to keep our community healthy and strong. Your commitment to what you do is as meaningful as ever. Thank you. 

However, each of us is also facing new personal hardships. Below is a current roundup of resources that may help you and your family now.  

Unemployment Resources 

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Massachusetts has expanded Unemployment Insurance Benefits. These benefits now extend to workers who have been isolated and quarantined, those who must be home to care for children as a result of school and daycare closures, and who must stop work due to “reasonable risk of exposure.”   

• Mass.gov: The official unemployment site for Massachusetts states “You should apply for unemployment benefits during your first week of total or partial unemployment. Most claims are processed within 21-28 days after filing. It may take longer if there is an issue with your claim.” 

• Changes to Unemployment Insurance, explained.   

• How to apply: UFCW Local Union 328 has developed this handy step-by-step guide. 

Federal Stimulus Checks 

Last week, the Federal Government passed historic legislation to provide economic relief in response to COVID-19. Some key provisions of this 2 trillion dollar aid package developed are designed to help small- to mid-sized businesses, and don’t apply to UMass Memorial. However, stimulus checks are being delivered directly to qualified US residents and Americans living abroad. Here’s some things to know.  

• The New York Times provides this FAQ about the Coronavirus Stimulus Checks, Unemployment, and the National Coronavirus Plan 

• You can estimate the amount of your own check using this Stimulus Check Calculator from the Washington Post. 

More Ways to Find Help  

As a SHARE union member, you’re linked to a broad network of resources. Our grassroots union at UMass Memorial Hospital, SHARE, is AFSCME Local #3900, a member organization of the AFL-CIO.  

• AFL-CIO COVID-19 resources 

• AFSCME COVID-19 resources 

• Hardship help is also available to union members at unionplus.org. This includes legal help, mortgage assistance, a medical bill negotiating assistance, and more. 

• Community Health, developed in partnership with UMass Memorial, provides a searchable database of food delivery, job training, and other services centered in Central Massachusetts.  

• Helpsteps also connects individuals to local health and human resources to alleviate disparities in health and social well-being in Massachusetts communities. Although the program was developed to provide resources to the greater Boston area, it has expanded to provide links to services throughout the state through Mass 211, including financial assistance, legal aid, food, mental health, addiction, education, elder care, and more.  

you can Help your union to Help Others

We’ll continue to round up links to services that could potentially aid you and your family. Sharing information helps keep our union strong. If you learn something useful from your experience with any of these services that we can help pass along to other members, please tell your area SHARE organizer, or give us a call (508-929-4020) and tell us your story.

Keeping Up-To-Date 

 The SHARE staff is working to keep up with news and information as it becomes available. For the latest, please see the news feed on the SHARE homepage, or follow the official @sharehospitalu1 and SHARE Organizer @sharekirk on Twitter.

UMass Memorial Labor Pool & Redeployment: A Message for SHARE Members

Dear SHARE member,

UMass Memorial leadership has just announced that all employees who do not currently have enough work to do in their own job during this crisis will be part of a “Labor Pool”, or float pool. The hospital wants to keep people on the payroll and available to be floated to where they are needed in this COVID-19 crisis, now and in the future. SHARE leaders have been talking with management about how this should work. We are advocating for fairness, transparency and employee choice.

SHARE will continue to communicate the concerns we are hearing from SHARE members to senior management, discuss concerns and problems together, and troubleshoot issues as they come up, large and small. We are acting as back-up for members who have issues that they can’t resolve through their manager, the Command Center or Employee Health. We are collecting questions and issues for management about this new plan, so please let us know what you are thinking.

There’s more: Link here for answers to questions about the Labor Pool & Redeployment,

What We Know So Far

The University campus recently got decorated with these messages, and we couldn’t agree more.

Staying Connected

It's as important as ever for our union to remain well connected. We'd really appreciate your help making sure that these messages are getting through to as many SHARE members as possible. Sometimes, we have incorrect email addresses -- if anyone you know isn't getting our emails, please send us their correct email address or have them contact us at SHARE.comment@theshareunion.org. Thank you.

sincerely,

The SHARE Organizing Staff

508-929-4020

Labor Pool & Redeployment Q&A

SHARE Questions and Answers

About the Labor Pool & Redeployment

What We Know So Far

Overview: What does the Labor Pool plan for SHARE members?

• Managers are submitting names of staff to the Labor Pool when work in their department is suspended or volume is reduced.

• SHARE members in the Labor Pool may be floated to help with the COVID emergency, in some way that fits your training.

• If you are in the Labor Pool, but the hospital does not need you to float right now, you stay home and get “admin” pay. You will not have to use your own time.

• HR Business Partners plan to contact each individual SHARE member whose name was put into the Labor Pool.

• It is possible to opt out of the Labor Pool. If you do so, you need to use your own paid time off to get paid. Or you could apply for unemployment.

• This plan will be in place until at least May 2nd.

What’s the Good News? Financial Security, Some Stability, and a Plan

• We are glad that UMass Memorial is announcing a plan that will allow all employees to be paid, even if there isn’t enough work in their departments. Before this decision, some SHARE members were told that they would have to use their own time if they did not have enough work. SHARE has been advocating for all SHARE members to be paid if they are willing to work, even if their normal work is going away.

• Having a plan through May 2nd gives everyone some stability. With many things changing every day, it is good to have this level of certainty.

• UMass Memorial is trying to be prepared for whatever comes with this COVID pandemic, such as the possibility of a “field hospital” at the DCU Center. Some other hospitals have done furloughs or layoffs. UMass Memorial is choosing to pay everyone even if there is no work for them right now, so that as many people as possible are available if needed down the road, and so that employees have a stable income.

Who Goes into the Labor Pool?

Department managers were asked how many people they need for the current levels of work. They were asked to give names of who is available for the Labor Pool. SHARE has recommendations about how this should work, but we don’t know how most managers made decisions.

SHARE has been advocating with management for:

• Transparency, so SHARE members understand how it was decided.

• Standards and guidelines, to avoid the appearance of favoritism.

• Choice for SHARE members, wherever possible.

SHARE’s recommended practice for deciding who goes into the Labor Pool:

1. The manager should decide how many people they need to keep in the work area. This could take into account how many of each role, any specific skills needed, and shifts that need to be covered. This information should be shared with the SHARE members, so it’s clear.

2. Ask for volunteers to go into the Labor Pool. If there are too many volunteers for the available slots in the Labor Pool, the most senior should be chosen first.

3. If more people are needed for the Labor Pool, it should go by reverse seniority, least-senior first.

How is the Labor Pool going to work?

Here’s what we know so far:

• The COVID situation is constantly changing, and plans to respond will continue to evolve.

• It’s in everyone’s interest for SHARE members to be assigned work that they feel competent and confident to do. Different SHARE members in the float pool will be qualified for different roles.

• A Human Resources Business Partner is supposed to contact each staff member whose name was put into the Labor Pool. They will discuss any department-specific processes and address any concerns.

• The Command Center is keeping a list of work they need help with. Needs have included helping with fit-testing masks, handing out masks, working in the testing tent, screening visitors, PCAs working to support co-workers on the inpatient floors, patient observers, staffing the supply donation center, etc.

• At the moment, some of these needs are short term, like a day, and some are longer term. SHARE believes that people may move in and out of Labor Pool assignments, and some staying at home, as this crisis progresses. The other possibility departments may want to consider is rotating who goes to work and who is assigned to the Labor Pool.
  

What if I’m assigned to the Labor Pool, but not given work?

This will probably be true for many SHARE members for now, especially those who do not give direct patient care. You stay at home, until you are contacted about an assignment. UMass Memorial is guaranteeing pay for people in the Labor Pool, whether or not there is work you are asked to do, at least until May 2nd.

Under the current plan, will my pay and benefits and budgeted hours stay the same if I am in the Labor Pool?

Yes.

What if I don’t want to be in the Labor Pool?

If you are not needed in your usual job and you want to opt out of the Labor Pool, you can use your earned time, or you can apply for unemployment. (Massachusetts came out with new guidelines to use unemployment when you still have a job but temporarily have no work because of the Coronavirus. SHARE will post more info soon about unemployment.)

SHARE has been advocating that floating should be voluntary. Of course, SHARE members who float will make crucial contributions to taking care of patients during this pandemic. The hospital’s view is that this is an emergency, and they need all hands on deck to deal with it. That’s why they will pay people in the Labor Pool, but those who opt out will have to use their own time.

If you have individual concerns about being floated, tell your manager, and talk with the HR Business Partner when they call you.

What if…..?

Individual SHARE members will have all kinds of questions about this new plan and their situations. SHARE suggests talking with your manager first. If the issue isn’t resolved, or you want help thinking it through, reach out to your local SHARE rep, or reach out to your SHARE Organizer. We want to help make this work for both the hospital and for individual SHARE members.

What’s going to happen in the future?

Like everyone in the hospital community, SHARE is working hard to prepare for changes that may come for SHARE members. None of us knows exactly what new challenges may arise. UMass Memorial is making decisions about how to prepare for a surge in COVID patients, with whatever information they have today. Changes are implemented on a daily basis, which can be incredibly frustrating for staff. Thankfully, SHARE has observed that UMass Memorial is doing a better job of communicating and informing staff than some other hospitals we have heard about, but there are still moments of miscommunication.

Going Forward

SHARE is working to communicate the members’ concerns we are hearing to senior management, and to act as back-up for members who have issues that can’t be resolved through their manager, the Command Center, or Employee Health. We are collecting questions and issues for management about this new plan, so please let us know what you are thinking.

Our hospitals play an essential role in our community, and our hospitals work because SHARE members do. Stories from SHARE members stepping up to help in so many different ways have been inspiring! Many are juggling complicated questions of how to take care of yourselves and your families, while helping the hospital as much as possible.

And, In Case You Missed It . . .

This email from hospital CEO Eric Dickson describes the current UMass Memorial plan . . .

Massachusetts Emergency Childcare Announcement

Massachusetts just announced that Emergency Childcare sites that will open Monday, March 23rd throughout the state, for frontline workers during the COVID-19 emergency. These programs are free to families and fully funded by the Commonwealth. Priority access will be given (but not limited) to healthcare workers, essential state workers, COVID-19 healthcare workers, grocery store employees, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, transportation and infrastructure workers, sanitation workers, DCF-involved families and families living in shelters. For more details and information please visit: https://eeclead.force.com/apex/EEC_ChildCareEmergencyParents

To view an approved emergency drop-in childcare provider near you and their hours of  operation, please visit the following directory: https://eeclead.force.com/resource/1584817665000/EEC_EmergencyProviderList. Parents will be responsible for reaching out to the programs directly.

Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can assist you finding more information.