Intermountain Healthcare Teams To Relieve New York Workers Overwhelmed By COVID-19

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The first of two Intermountain Healthcare teams boarded a plane bound for New York City to help medical workers in the nation’s largest COVID-19 hotspot.

The team of volunteers consists of around 50 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, respiratory therapists and other caregivers.

“I’m incredibly proud that so many of our caregivers want to help others in need, and we have the capacity right now to share our staff with others in the middle of their COVID-19 surge,” said Dr. Paul Krakovitz, Intermountain Healthcare’s chief medical officer for specialty-based care.

Intermountain is partnering with two hospitals in New York City, New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Northwell Health, according to the release.

The Utah team that departed Monday will work a 14-day shift at Northwell Health on the frontlines of the pandemic that is filling New York City hospitals with patients.

“This temporary sharing of staff experienced in treating COVID-19 will greatly benefit patients in Utah and elsewhere,” Krakovitz said.

The number of new hospitalizations in New York appeared to be declining, according to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

However, the situation there is dire with 10,834 fatalities, 778 of them in the last 24 hours Cuomo said.

In Utah, experts anticipated a COVID-19 surge to start in May or June. The Utah team will return in time to treat coronavirus patients during that surge, the release said.

“They will bring back knowledge and experience to share with their Utah colleagues that will help us serve Utah patients,” Krakovitz said.

The release also said Intermountain partners in New York City plan to return the favor and send help when a surge hits Utah.

Intermountain officials did not say when the second team will leave.

---

Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.