Across the United States, health care workers and essential employees are reporting to work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic to help heal patients and support families.
At the University of Miami Health System, there are thousands of individuals coming face-to-face with this crisis every day to take care of our patients and our facilities.
Here are ways to support UHealth:
1. Donate personal protective equipment (PPE).
There is a national shortage of personal protective equipment. PPE is needed to protect doctors, nurses, and other health care workers from contracting the virus as they care for patients. Donations of PPE and other hospital supplies will help deliver the best patient care during this pandemic, while protecting our health care providers. Needs include: masks (surgical masks, N95 masks, M3 reusable masks, and N100 cartridges), protective suits, face shields and/or eye protection (such as goggles), disposable gloves (any kind), boot covers, sterile cotton-tipped swabs, CAVI wipes (disinfectant wipes), and hand sanitizer.
2. Donate meals to staff.
With busy schedules, UHealth staff have limited time to get food in between their shifts. Anyone can support our UHealth teams by donating prepackaged meals or sponsoring meals.
3. Donate to the UHealth/Miller School of Medicine Emergency Response Fund.
UHealth created an emergency response fund to support individuals on the front lines and researchers who are working to find solutions to defend our communities against COVID-19. Donations to this fund will go directly to support research efforts and materials needed to combat COVID-19 at the University of Miami Health System.
4. Give a social media shoutout to #Hearts4UHealth.
Our essential employees usually don’t have much down time; but when they do, we’d like them to see an outpouring of support online. Take a few minutes to share a photo, video, or short note that shows gratitude and says you care. Tag it with #Hearts4UHealth to be sure that they will see your post.
5. Stay home.
For those who don’t need to go in to work, the best way to support health care workers is to stay home and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
6. Share information about childcare and other resources.
The University is offering resources to support frontline staff—including temporary expanded childcare for infants and children through age eight at the Canterbury Child Care Centers on both the Coral Gables and medical campuses. Employees in need of care for a child older than eight should contact Sandra Vasallo, director for human resources Total Rewards, who will work with the employee and Bright Horizons to make accommodations on a case-by-case basis. Vasallo can be reached at svasallo@miami.edu.
In addition, the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) program covers children from 0 to 13 years of age. Interested staff members should call the ELC Resource Center at 305-646-7220 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for information and assistance in finding the appropriate location for their needs. HR is also offering resources for health care employees on the HR Faculty and Staff Assistance Program website.
