Feature

One of the toughest parts of the fight against COVID-19 is that the virus has forced hospitals around the globe to bar visitors from entering out of concern for the safety of patients and the healthcare workers providing care to them.

At JPS Health Network, a team of tireless chaplains is doing all it can to bridge the gap between patients in the hospital and their worried families forced to stay at home. They are still touching lives – but in new and different ways.

Answering a call for more information about the community’s current health crisis, JPS Health Network has created a COVID-19 information line accessible to both healthcare workers and the public.

Starting today, information will be available on a recording updated daily at 10 a.m. In an email to staff, JPS President and CEO Robert Earley said the recording will include information about the number of JPS patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Wanda Peebles, Executive VP Acute Care and Chief Nursing Officer at JPS Health Network, is no stranger to helping lead people through tough situations.

During her 44-year career in the healthcare industry – the last nine of those years at JPS – she’s been called on to work through challenges both natural and manmade.

Official Press Release

JPS Health Network is grateful for the support of its community members, as our staff works tirelessly to care for patients in this challenging time. Many of you continue to ask how to best help—here are some answers to frequently asked questions. 

JPS Health Network emergency workers on Tuesday held a safety fair, honing their skills at donning and doffing their personal protective gear and properly preparing treatment areas to keep patients – and themselves – safe during the fight against COVID-19.

Dr. Andrew Saverine has only been a full time physician at JPS Health Network for a few months, but he’s already made a huge impact on how care is delivered to patients.

Emergency Medical Technician. Professional saxophonist. Construction worker. They’re all jobs Fort Worth native John Starwalt has held.

But, at 43 years old, he’s finally earned the title he’s dreamed about through all the twists and turns of his life and career: Dr. John Starwalt, DO.

JPS team members have worked night and day to prepare for the COVID-19 virus.

While a lot has gone on behind the scenes, the most visible part of their preparation is a big, orange tent that appeared Friday outside of the main entrance to the Patient Pavilion.

Lance Lynch, Director of Emergency Management said the temporary structure is a “screening tent” where people coming to the hospital who raise red flags during the COVID-19 screening process can be taken for further analysis by a healthcare provider.

JPS Health Network respiratory therapists have incorporated ultrasound technology into their work, bringing better and more efficient care to patients faster than possible before.

A patient who recently returned to the Fort Worth area from overseas was brought to JPS Health Network Tuesday morning, concerned about suspected symptoms of Coronavirus.

The case was quickly determined to be a false alarm. But not until after the plans the health network has put in place to respond to a potential outbreak in Tarrant County were tested in a real-life scenario. Hospital leaders were pleased with what they saw and used the experience as an inspiration to tweak their plans.