Jill Ransone, BS MT (ASCP)CM
Safety, Compliance, Education and POCT Manager
What role have you played in COVID-19 preparations? What are some of the successes and challenges you have faced?
The Safety and Compliance team has played a significant role in the Pathology COVID-19 response by facilitating communication with the Hospital Command Center and providing a resource for education to both the Hospital environment and for our Pathology team members. Our team successfully created numerous PPE guides, testing guides, COVID FAQs, COVID testing kits, and continues as a liaison between the Hospital COVID Command Center and our individual lab areas when support is needed. The biggest challenge is the fluidity of changing guidance and processes, and to keep our team members informed with the most up to date CDC and Hospital information.
What is a day on the job like since the pandemic began?
There is never enough time in the day! Daily briefings with our Pathology Safety and Compliance team start at 7:30 a.m., constant Zoom meetings to evaluate and discuss process changes, working with Hospital partners to evaluate POCT needs for new sites and existing spaces to handle the expected surge of COVID-19 patients, researching and obtaining guidance from VDH and the CDC and implementing POCT training efforts for redeployed team members. Eight hours goes by in a flash!
What do you think will be the lasting impact of COVID-19 on your work, the health system, and healthcare as a whole?
A lasting impact on my work is that I am much more computer savvy. COVID-19 has definitely provided outsiders insight into our Pathology laboratories and the effort it takes to produce the wonderful work our lab professionals do each and every day to provide accurate and reliable testing information. My hope is that this insight and education will continue to promote a partnership with all disciplines in the health system to facilitate the best possible care for our patients.
Have you seen any moments of hope or kindness in the hospital or community that you would like to share?
I have seen many examples of hope and kindness. The kindness of a construction worker waving at me as I walk into work, the making and giving of cloth masks by those blessed with the skill to sew, to the outpouring of support and recognition of our profession during Medical Laboratory Professionals week has been amazing. We had meals donated to our lab employees almost every day during our Lab Week celebration in April!
What are you doing to take care of your well-being during the pandemic?
I have a 7-month-old Jack Russell puppy at home that helps with mental de-stressing and long walks in the evening. Also, my family has become "Jeopardy!" obsessed.
What do you most look forward to doing when the pandemic ends, personally and professionally?
Personally, I look forward to taking a few days to spend in the sand and getting a slight sunburn! Professionally, I look forward to continuing to enhance multidisciplinary communication processes that are newly structured in response to the pandemic.