LCMC Health MidAmerica nurses from Kansas City volunteer to treat Tulane COVID-19 patients

One of the advantages of Tulane Health System being a member of a large organization like LCMC Health is the ability to leverage its scale and shift resources to where they are needed most.

“We know the New Orleans region – and our Tulane Health System facilities – are experiencing a significant number of positive COVID-19 patients,” said Suzanne Ford, LCMC Health MidAmerica Division’s vice president of nursing operations. “So in addition to providing resources and guidance to help maintain the critical PPE and equipment needed to treat this community outbreak, we’re now providing additional nursing support from our sister facilities in our division.”

More than 200 nurses from hospitals in the MidAmerica Division’s Kansas City market have volunteered to join nurses at Tulane Medical Center and lend their skills to their team. Fifteen nurses have arrived so far, providing a chance for some Tulane ICU nurses to take a much-needed break from a stressful environment, Ford said.

The volunteer nurses will also create opportunity to train other members of the Tulane nursing staff to care for COVID-19 patients, as that need is likely to grow in coming days and weeks. Currently, Tulane Medical Center has adequate staffing, and these volunteer nurses are not replacing or displacing any current Tulane staff, she said.

“We are so thankful for these brave volunteers, who are leaving their family and friends to come where the need is greatest, just as we’re grateful to the entire Tulane care team for their continued selfless efforts to meet this community health crisis,” Ford said.