2020/2021 Community Impact Report

COVID: From Crisis to Collaboration continued

through the surge, treating patients for other medical needs. In December, AtlantiCare began vaccinating staff. Partnering with the New Jersey Air National Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency, New Jersey Department of Health, and the Atlantic County Department of Health, AtlantiCare opened the megasite in January 2021. “Really, the whole community came together,” says Darren Clinkscale, Director of Property Management, who played a key role in supporting AtlantiCare’s efforts at the megasite. “Once we were able to procure supplies at scale, it was a well- oiled machine,” Kilmer recalls. Average time from entering the mega site to walking out the door – including a 15-minute observation period – was 28 minutes. “At peak operation, we were able to vaccinate more than 2,000 patients a day, about twice the number expected,” Clinkscale adds. He recalls, too, the outpouring of community support and gratitude. “The community came to us –donating hundreds of meals to feed staff and lift their spirits. Food just kept rolling in. It showed us the real trust that our community has in AtlantiCare. This was a shining example of how we all make a difference every day.” The pandemic dragged on, plateauing over the summer of 2021 and picking up again in the fall. “We felt a collective relief as we rolled out vaccinations,” says Trivedi. “But ultimately, it was not the panacea we hoped. Misinformation, people’s distrust, lead them to avoid getting the shot.” It was a moment for Trivedi to regroup. At the core of medicine, he believes, is the trust established between provider and patient. “Drugs, treatment, sometimes only get you

so far. We had to lean into providing comfort, making sure the patient felt seen, cared for, and respected.” He feels cautiously optimistic now. “I will be the last to declare this ‘over,’” he says. “As COVID evolves, AtlantiCare will continue to be a role model and safety net for the community.” AtlantiCare has implemented Long-COVID clinics to treat patients with lingering symptoms. New policies will help in navigating future challenges. Most of all, Trivedi says, he has faith in AtlantiCare. “We are an organization founded on family, and through it all, that’s how we persevered.

everyone being excellent at what they do. The camaraderie and cohesiveness – from front desk reception to the highest levels of administration – everyone prioritized the health and safety of our team and of our community. We cannot take that for granted.” Others echo these sentiments of pride and gratitude. “Our role in providing testing was an important element in managing COVID,” says Heather Nigro of AtlantiCare Labs. “We often operate behind the scenes, and the outpouring of thank-you signs, food donations, and community recognition lavished on health care workers throughout the organization was heartwarming. I’m grateful for the recognition, and very proud of the profession.” “I think we are now all in a better place, the pandemic forced us to be creative and innovative, to work as a team across the organization, to become more resilient,” adds Downham. “We are more comfortable in our ability to be flexible, to find new solutions. It has made us stronger in the long run.” The future is always uncertain, and there is always work to be done. But, says Downham, “as we shift back to proactive care, looking ahead and planning for the future, we have new tools, and new experiences to draw from. Everything has been transformed.”

The community came together, the AtlantiCare family grew stronger, and we held each other up.” AtlantiCare’s outcomes, he says, “are a testament to

12 ANNUAL REPORT ON GIVING