With the volume of COVID-19 cases continuing to rise in our community and the need to innovate to meet staffing needs, Southern New Hampshire Health began their Helping Hands program, which provides opportunities for employees in non-clinical roles to provide support to frontline teams. True to the organization’s culture, several Southern New Hampshire Health and SolutionHealth employees quickly reached out to learn how they could support the hospital-based departments being impacted most by this surge in volume. The program is organized and run by staff across the organization, Jess Wyman, Betsy Houde, and Caitlin Rivet.
Within days of launching the program, more than 60 employees stepped up to help with non-clinical tasks such as stocking supplies, answering phones, providing clerical support, COVID testing, and coverage for front door screeners, and other tasks as needed. Thank you to staff who have already helped through the program!
Three Helping Hands members assist with COVID testing for staff.
“I was really excited when I saw this opportunity. As a non-clinical employee, I have felt the impact of the pandemic in a much different way than our clinical staff. Everyone’s role has changed a bit during the pandemic, and volunteering through Helping Hands felt like a tangible way to support fellow employees in a way that made an immediate impact,” said Kaitlin Alfaro, compliance & privacy program manager for Southern New Hampshire Health who has stepped up to help. “I spent my time assisting by running things to the lab, getting supplies from the stock room, answering the phone, helping with non-clinical patient tasks as needed, and walking around to sanitize surfaces – all things that would have been difficult for the clinical staff to do while continuing to care for their patients. It was a great glimpse into what our front-line staff do and the excellent level of compassionate care they have maintained during these difficult times. I am eager to get the chance to assist again.”