COVID Chronicle

COVID-19 and the Resiliency of Maine People In his novel The Stand , Stephen King wrote, “There are no maps of change. You just come out the other side. Or you don’t.” That statement fairly sums up the path we have been blazing since February, and we are firmly committed to coming out the other side of COVID-19 stronger and better than ever. Sometimes, the most significant events in our lives happen without us even noticing them. This is not one of those times. During this worldwide pandemic, we know the tough decisions we are making will have significant impact on the lives of people throughout Maine and beyond. We know our lives and habits will change — perhaps in permanent ways. I’ve been fortunate to have the support of the team that is Northern Light Health to work through these events. Our promise to make healthcare work for you has guided our thinking, kept us grounded and focused on what’s important to our patients and to the communities we serve. Within these pages you’ll read about how the COVID-19 pandemic first touched us through a supply chain shortage. About how, from there, we set up a systemwide incident command, called all hands on-deck, and met challenges in patient care, community knowledge, and preparedness for any situation. I’m beyond proud of what our team has quickly built, advanced, and organized for what has happened and may still come, while keeping open the lines of communication with our patients, communities, and each other. The final chapter of this story is not written. There is much more to come, but we face the future knowing we can rise to the challenge while maintaining our compassion and care for all who need us. We have already started After Action Reviews of our work during the last few months so we are better informed of what went well and where we might need some improvement. I remain confident that Northern Light Health will emerge from this pandemic even stronger. Remember the adage, “Crisis does not build character, it reveals it.”

Tim Dentry President & CEO

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