From the Heart: A dispatch from the COVID-19 front

Wednesday, March 15, 2020 | Vol. 1, No. 1

Building a healthier St. Tammany – together

Welcome to St. Tammany Health System’s relaunched, reinvigorated and renamed community newsletter -- formerly called Community Connections -- which we’ve reimagined to share with you, our neighbors, all that’s going on at our main hospital campus in Covington and all our satellite facilities.

As you’d expect, COVID-19 remains a high priority at STHS, but we also have numerous examples of hopeful stories as our colleagues continue to innovate in their mission to bring you world-class healthcare close to home. We look forward to sharing them with you as we, together, defeat COVID-19.

Community Checkup with Joan Coffman

Thirty-six days into Louisiana’s COVID-19 outbreak, community efforts to 'flatten the curve’ are having an impact – but we can't take our foot off the accelerator just yet, STHS CEO Joan Coffman says in her weekly video address .

Flattening the curve, staying the course

Calling all makers

The best way to fight COVID-19, of course, is to stay home. But fighting the resulting boredom can be tricky. Fortunately, there are things you can do to avoid going stir-crazy and to fight COVID-19 at the same time.

Our nurses are always in need of homemade headcap scarves, for example. Also, our colleagues have found that homemade masks – while not approved for patient interactions – are handy when traveling to and from work.

If you’re the crafty type, you can bring donated masks and headcap scarves to the main entrance of the main hospital campus at 1202 S. Tyler St. in Covington. Donors can also call (985) 871-5897 to arrange a pickup.

How to survive COVID – even with kids

With Gov. Edwards revealing his intention to close schools for the rest of the academic year, parents can expect to have their children underfoot until the fall session. Luckily for them, Lori Cage of the STHS Parenting Center recently shared tips to help parents maintain their sanity in the age of COVID.

Meet the coronavirus terminators

Our Environmental Services Department has recently deployed a pair of germ-blasting robots – affectionately dubbed “The Twins” – that, combined with the work of our EVS housekeepers, are helping keep our colleagues and patients as safe and healthy as possible.

A hero's welcome

Every day, our STHS colleagues have been waking up, pulling on their scrubs and reporting once more for duty on the front lines of the coronavirus fight. Recently, their heroic work was recognized with messages of support and gratitude chalked on the sidewalks leading to employee entrances at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington and other STHS facilities.

Stress eating due to COVID-19?

You’re not alone

It’s not unusual for people to turn to food in times of psychological distress, and with the COVID-19 pandemic upon us, it seems to have become an even bigger problem. To help flatten your belly while flattening the curve, Julie Fortenberry RDN, a nutritionist at St. Tammany Health System, recently offered strategies for combating stress eating.

St. Tammany Health System