UTMB has stood strong in the face of many storms, persevering in service to our patients and community through hurricanes, floods, and freezes.
Last month as we prepared for a rare weather scenario in our area – to include below-freezing temperatures, snowfall, and ice – our staff responded promptly and proactively as always.
I would like to recognize our Ambulatory leadership and staff for acting quickly when it became apparent we would need to close clinics on Jan. 21 and 22. Your outstanding communication and teamwork were essential to ensure we could close for the safety of our staff and patients, and reopen promptly when we could safely do so.
I am grateful to all those who came in on Monday, Jan. 20, a holiday, to help prepare for the closure. Clinic staff made sure in-basket phone calls were returned before the closure and worked to reschedule patients whose appointments would be affected.
Our Access Services staff also played a critical role in these efforts. With team members staying overnight and working from home, the team was able to field 7,500 patient calls, perform 181 nurse triages and complete eight Maritime Telemedicine visits. This dedication does not go unnoticed.
We were all extremely relieved that this weather incident resolved quickly without damages or widespread power outages, but I am confident our staff was well prepared for any scenario. Thank you to everyone for your tremendous commitment to our clinical mission.
Vicente A. Resto, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS
Chief Physician Executive
Senior Vice President, Health System Ambulatory Operations and Surgical Services