Powered by Care: Partnerships, collaboration and communication in the time of COVID-19

With an intricate network of partners and multiple locations, The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis has prioritized building a strategy for resilience during COVID-19. Despite the pandemic, the need to support patients in the St. Louis metropolitan area who are recovering from a stroke or other life-changing illness or injury remains unchanged, and the hospital continues to find ways to support the needs of the community.

Angie Valleck, CPHRM, director of quality and risk management, has taken on an elevated leadership role at the main hospital and satellite locations affiliated with BJC HealthCare and Encompass Health. Throughout the pandemic, she and the hospital's leadership team are championing efforts by assessing unique needs - whether from patients, employees or the community at large.

One of the best practices is to find ways to stay tuned in to your stakeholders. Participating in virtual meetings, calls or briefings with regulatory bodies and partners allows for a constant stream of updates on anything from COVID-19 case rates to the evolving guidelines to ensure patient and employee safety. Staying in touch helps with alignment on protocols and adjustment to new working conditions. She also suggests finding consistency in daily operations.

Remaining connected to employees on the front lines at multiple locations also presented new opportunities for collaboration to support patients referred for rehabilitative care. Virtual town halls, regular updates from leadership and a COVID-19 specific email address are providing means for day-to-day updates on protocol changes and relevant data, as well as forums to respond to employee questions.

Valleck is certified in healthcare risk management and has more than fifteen years of healthcare experience in acute inpatient rehabilitation.

Encompass Health's Powered by Care series profiles how Company leaders and clinicians are delivering on our promise of connected care and superior outcomes.