Catholic Health Receives Grant from Univera Healthcare
Funds will be used to offset cost of PPE and COVID-19 testing
Catholic Health, through the Sisters Hospital Foundation, has received a $35,000 grant from Univera Healthcare to be used towards the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 testing. As part of its comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit health insurer expects to spend $162 million on testing supplies and personal protective equipment for hospitals and healthcare workers across upstate New York.
Prioritizing Safety While Services Resume
Associate safety is a top priority for Catholic Health. Masks are supplied and required for all Catholic Health personnel, with higher levels of PPE for those who have direct contact with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients. With the resumption of elective surgeries at Catholic Health, the need for COVID testing has increased. In addition to routine pre-surgical testing, all patients undergoing surgery or other outpatient procedures are tested for COVID-19 prior to their procedure. Patients are also screened the day of surgery for COVID-19 symptoms and provided with a mask for their safety.
“No one has faced a public health crisis like COVID-19,” said Art Wingerter, president of Univera Healthcare. “This crisis requires a strong and comprehensive response to assure everyone in our community can get the care they need, in an environment that is safe for patients and health care providers alike.”
“We offer our sincerest thanks to Univera Healthcare for partnering with Catholic Health in the fight against this on-going pandemic,” said Mark A. Sullivan, President & CEO of Catholic Health. “Our patients’ and associates’ health and safety always come first and having additional resources to fund PPE and testing is vital in creating a culture of safety in all of our Catholic Health hospitals and facilities.”
