Catholic Health Discharges 100th Patient from COVID-19 Treatment Facility at St. Joseph Campus
With Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ playing over the hospital’s speaker system and staff clapping during a heartfelt sendoff, Catholic Health’s COVID-19 Treatment Facility at St. Joseph Campus discharged its 100th patient over the weekend. The farewell is an enduring sign of hope and a testament to the skill and dedication of every member of the care team at the Cheektowaga facility.
Celebrating Each Patient Discharge
The discharge ceremony has been an ongoing scene at the former hospital, which opened on March 26 as Western New York’s only fully dedicated facility for the treatment of Coronavirus. A song from a special playlist chosen by the staff accompanies every patient as they are wheeled out of the facility. Other songs on the playlist include I’m Still Standing, Beautiful Day and What a Wonderful World.
“We cherish those entrusted to our care. The work is hard and it is uplifting to celebrate those being discharged. Sadly, we cannot save everyone. We mourn those who have been lost to this virus and our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones,” said Rebecca McCormick-Boyle, RN, Chief Integration Officer for Catholic Health and COVID-19 Treatment Center Incident Commander. “We want families and the community to know we are providing the safest, highest quality, and most compassionate care possible to our patients. Every time one of the songs is played over the speakers, it gives staff and patients throughout our facility renewed energy to continue the fight.”
A retired Rear Admiral with the U.S. Navy, McCormick-Boyle joined Catholic Health in January to execute the health system’s new strategic plan. She was tapped by President & CEO Mark A. Sullivan to lead the transition of St. Joseph Campus and provide continuing oversight of the COVID-19 Treatment Facility.
Treating COVID-19 Patients in Western New York
Currently 88 patients, directly admitted from other Catholic Health hospitals, are receiving care at St. Joseph Campus. Designed to provide acute medical and critical care services for up to 188 patients, the reconfigured hospital treats the largest number of COVID-19 patients in Western New York.
Fully equipped and staffed by doctors, nurses, therapists, and support staff from St. Joseph Campus and throughout Catholic Health, the facility features a carefully structured environment for superior safety and employs industry-wide “best practices” for the care and treatment of patients with COVID-19.
