Sonora, CA…..Despite aggressive measures to prevent COVID-19 in its long-term care facilities, Adventist Health Sonora is saddened by the loss of two of its residents.  “It is an honor to serve our long-term care families, and we love and care for each of our residents like our own family members,” says Michelle Fuentes, president of Adventist Health Sonora. “Our hearts and prayers are with their loved ones. The losses are terribly distressing for our staff, who have worked so hard to keep everyone safe from COVID-19.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, staff and residents of Adventist Health Sonora’s long-term care facilities have undergone regular testing and endured strict visiting policies, among other measures including universal masking and heightened disinfecting protocols. Since November, with the current surge in cases in Tuolumne County, staff and residents have been tested twice a week in an effort to isolate anyone who may be carrying the disease but not showing any symptoms – before they could pass the virus to anyone else.

“Through all of the challenges, our staff has done a phenomenal job caring for the physical, mental and spiritual health of our residents. Their efforts had been largely effective up until this time,” Fuentes says. “Our hearts are deeply saddened, but our work must continue as we do all we can to protect this wonderful group of people who are rich with knowledge and amazing stories to share.”

Hope is on the horizon as Adventist Health Sonora’s front-line care team, including those working in long-term care, were some of the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, with even more healthcare workers scheduled to receive the vaccine this week.

Long-term care residents will also be in the first group in the region to be vaccinated against COVID-19. CVS is coordinating the vaccination of long-term care residents and will begin administering the vaccine as quickly as possible. <

Even with the vaccination program underway, we must all remain vigilant and wear our masks, wash our hands and maintain physical distance from others to prevent further spread of COVID-19, especially during the holidays when we are all so tempted to see our loved ones,” Fuentes adds. “Please follow all guidelines and recommendations and help us in protecting each other.”

Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 80 communities on the West Coast and Hawaii through healthcare services and additional communities nationwide through Blue Zones®, a pioneer in taking a systemic and environmental approach to improving the health of entire cities and communities. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist heritage and values, Adventist Health provides care in hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, hospice agencies and joint-venture retirement centers in both rural and urban communities and virtual hospital care through Adventist Health Hospital@Home.

Our compassionate and talented team of 37,000 includes associates, medical staff physicians, allied health professionals and volunteers driven in pursuit of one mission: living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. Together, we are transforming the American healthcare experience with an innovative, yet timeless, whole-person focus on physical, mental, spiritual and social healing.

About us: www.everymaskup.com is a collaboration of 100 leading health systems representing thousands of hospitals across the U.S. joining together to create messages for the betterment of communities they serve. The impetus for this, and other public service campaigns to follow, came from a group of health care marketing and communications executives meeting for a decade and reengaged weekly since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The goal is to share knowledge and experience, best practices, strategies and resources- knowing they can accomplish more together. Founded and led by Rhoda Weiss, Ph.D., Los Angeles-based national health care leader and consultant, the expanded coalition is partnering with Cleveland Clinic Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Paul Matsen and his team for this effort.

Additionally, hospitals and health systems on a regional basis continue to come together to send messages like these of prevention and safety, hope and healing, life and death, care and caring. ley Health Foundation may be found online at www.AdventistHealth.org/Belove