Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | September 18, 2023 | Worcester Business Journal 9 have not been enacted. While these measures have not yet been deemed necessary, Ellison said, the reduced data when compared to previous years poses challenges in knowing the exact COVID-19 positivity rate at the hospital. In the community at large, too, he said, individuals are not reporting results of at-home testing to the state. "It's a little bit harder to get a sense of what's happening," said Ellison. At Milford Regional Medical Center, a modest increase in COVID-19 cases among employees and patients has administrators paying attention, but the hospital is not yet to the point of requiring masks for caregivers or patients, said Dr. Peter Smulowitz, chief medical officer at the hospital. Like UMass Memorial, Milford Regional is continuously monitoring both internal and external numbers, but has yet to implement changed measures for the current uptick, said Smulowitz. "We feel confident that with the last three years, we have developed the expertise and knowledge internally that we know how to keep patients and staff safe," he said. Winter is coming COVID-positive figures at Milford Regional have not maintained a significant enough increase for a significant enough period to spark alarm, Smulowitz said, letting him feel confident in the current monitoring approach. ings may change with the shi into fall and winter, however, said Smulowitz. "We haven't entered into the season we think will have the biggest uptick," he said. Without knowing yet what the colder months will entail, Milford Regional is approaching the season with measured optimism it will be able to appropriately respond to a potential surge. "We have our fingers crossed for winter to come. We'll do our job when it gets here," said Smulowitz. With the start of the school year, Ellison said the UMass Memorial system is extra attuned to COVID-19 levels and is preparing itself for the possibility it may need to implement additional measures to control the spread of the virus. Community members, too, should take extra care, he said. "is is a time to be more cautious again," said Ellison. At the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, leadership is preparing to support hospitals going into what was once flu season, and is now flu, COVID, and RSV season. MHA is urging the community to support the strained healthcare system, too. "We are again asking community members to keep up with all vaccines available to them, utilize the ER only for emergency situations, and remain vigilant with many of the basic public health practices that helped get us through COVID-19," Noga said. W We aren't worried about COVID COVID-19 cases are on the rise across Massachusetts, and already health systems like UMass Memorial Health in Worcester are reacting to that surge by reinstating a mask mandate among caregivers. When polled online, more than three-fourths of WBJ readers said they aren't worried about COVID impacting their businesses' operations. Are you concerned about how a COVID-19 surge might impact your operations this fall? F L A S H P O L L e workforce limitations and limited number of staff trained on certain treatment protocols is a concern at UMass Memorial, too. If too many caregivers become ill and are not able to administer care, it becomes a problem, said Ellison. It is a specific concern for those trained on radiation treatments for COVID-19, as the hospital only has a limited number of those specialists. If no one is able to deliver that care, patients will be turned away, said Ellison. "ats what we worry about," he said. A COVID uptick Across Massachusetts, COVID-19 levels are more of a swell than a surge, for now. e seven-day average of confirmed COVID-19 cases, as of Sept. 6, was 256.7, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. at's up from a lowest observed value in June 2021 of 64.1. Since July 4, when the figure stood at 75, the number has steadily increased, but remains low compared to historical data. In December 2022 and January 2023, the figure was more than 1,000 for several weeks, and the all-time peak in January 2022 was nearly 23,000 cases. e portion of COVID-19 tests that are positive has increased slightly more, reaching double digits in late August and continuing to rise. Comparatively, in late spring the figure was regularly 2-3%, according to DPH data. While hospitalizations are up too, at more than 300 as a seven-day average, compared to 100 in July, COVID-19 deaths are remaining low. As of reporting for this story, the figure for a seven-day average of COVID-19 deaths has remained below two, compared to the all-time high of 172.9 in April 2020 and the January 2022 surge, which topped out at 63.7. Precautions beyond the mask mandate, like requiring staff to test regularly and requiring COVID tests for all patients who come to the hospital, Yes, and we have already implemented new protocols. Graduate Programs clarku.edu/graduate The Clark MBA | Finance | Accounting Analytics and Big Data | Computer Science Project Management | Communications Sustainable Development Public Administration Generous Scholarships for Central Massachusetts Students Local, Flexible, Career-Focused 6% Yes, and we are thinking about ways to respond. 17% No, but we will respond should there be a significant surge. 37% No, we are not concerned. 40% COVID-19 vaccinations Percentage of population who received at least one dose Massachusetts U.S. Percentage of population who received full dose 95% 84% 81% 70% Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via USAFACTS, as of May 10, 2023

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