b'8Health Care through a PandemicIn 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic pushed into its second year, Concord Hospitals response was guided by years of comprehensive emergency planning, lessons learned in the first uncertain months of the pandemic, its resilient staff and support from the community. In 2020, we had a primarily unknown pathogen with no treatments, a broken supply chain for personal protective equipment (PPE), no testing and really no way to treat people or even to know what to treat them with, said Dr. Michael McLeod, Concord Hospital Associate Chief Clinical Officer.THE HOSPITAL SERVED THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE SURGEIn 2021, there was a shift, where PPE was in much better supply and theDespite the challenge, the HospitalUnlike the early months of the knowledge was still far from complete,continued to take the lead in protectingpandemic, when many non-but we had a way to detect it, test for itpatients, staff and the community atemergency services were and various treatments, he said.large by increasing testing, mandatingsuspended, in 2021, the Hospital Vaccines also helped protect theand administering immunizations forsafely cared for the increased community and Hospital providers andstaff, providing booster shots tonumber of COVID-19 patients, staff, many of whom missed work inresidents with immunewhile continuing to provide elective 2020 because they were ill or had beendeficiencies, and, then,procedures, surgeries and exposed to the virus in the community.providing boosters toother services. As FY 2021 ended in September, COVID- Hospital staff. It was a major accomplishment 19s Delta variant increased the numberbased on detailed planning; of cases and hospitalizations after a lullopen, honest communication; a in the spring and early summer, furtherdedicated and caring staff; and taxing exhausted providers and staff.a supportive community.'