Dear patrons of Fillmore County Hospital,
As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in our community and in our state, I am deeply troubled as to what the future may bring unless we take additional preventative measures.
Fillmore County Hospital is vital to this community; however, the impacts of this pandemic are putting both our healthcare workers and our patients at risk.
Our hospital staff at times has been stretched and pushed to the limit;
the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to the non-COVID patients have made our hospital an extremely busy place recently. We are afraid of what the next few weeks could bring, both here at FCH as well as across Nebraska. We have a loyal and dedicated team of men and women working here, but for a variety of reasons, they are getting taxed, both mentally and physically.
I’m also very concerned about our hospital’s ability and the rest of the State’s ability to manage patients, whether they have contracted COVID-19 or not. We all have a limited supply of beds and resources and if the numbers don’t slow down, we may be faced with extremely difficult decisions in terms of who receives needed care and who may have to wait.
There are things we can all do to help. Please wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, maintain six feet of social distance, and avoid the 3 Cs (crowded places, close contacts and confined spaces). These preventative measures are important and can significantly curb the spread.
With the holidays fast approaching, it’s even more important to do your part. By taking preventative actions now, we can protect our family and friends from this deadly virus.
I implore you as a resident of the local communities we serve to help us slow down the spread of COVID-19 in Nebraska. Together, by doing the right things, we can and will change the trajectory and the impact of this virus.
Sincerely,
Chris Nichols
CEO
Fillmore County Hospital
