Daily Archives: April 15, 2020

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Adena to Furlough 500; Facing a Projected Deficit of $50 Million Through 2020

In a news release Wednesday, Adena Health System President and CEO Jeff Graham said “tough financial decisions” are forcing the System to temporarily furlough 500 nonclinical employees.

“This is a temporary furlough, not a layoff” Graham said in the release which added caregivers will be able to return to their current position as well as keep their health benefits throughout the furlough period.

Adena serves 400,000 people in a nine-county region of south central Ohio. “Making sure Adena remains a strong and vibrant health care organization is needed to ensure we are here for our caregivers and our patients requires dome difficult decisions” said Graham.

Adena cites the significant impact of lower operating revenues due to reductions with Ohio’s order to stop all elective surgeries and procedures, combined with overall decline in Emergency Department hospital admissionsUrgent Care visits, and normal, every day hospital census. The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed.

SEE THE NEWS RELEASE HERE

Adena announced Tuesday it would be receiving $7.9 million from the newly created Provider Relief Fund and is part of the initial disbursement of the first $30 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief ad Economic Security Act from the US Department of Health and Human Services. SEE THE “CARES” ACT RELEASE HERE

Graham praised the continuing efforts of the caregivers within the Adena Health System and added “Despite our challenges, I look toward Adena’s future with optimism”.

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F.L.A.D. is Saturday

Dan DeGarmo and Greg Phillips have organized a great way to allow Chillicothe residents to show their appreciation for front line workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Front Line Appreciation Day (F.L.A.D.) is Saturday April 18th from 2p-6p.

DeGarmo, Pastor of The Church in Chillicothe says he’ll travel through the streets of Chillicothe with a camera man videoing signs of appreciation from residents. Video captured will be placed in a video slide show and released on Facebook.

Phillips, a Spanish teacher at Chillicothe High School and also First Ward Chillicothe Councilman, says appreciation goes beyond the health care workers and extends to those on the frontlines doing the little things to keep the community running.

“It’s about honoring” said Phillips. “That individual that they (residents) name wouldn’t be considered ‘front line’ in a normal era… but this isn’t normal and we feel people want to say ‘Thank you’. They can just wave.”

Phillips adds residents don’t need to make a sign, but they’re more than welcome to do so.

DeGarmo adds they’ll not be able to get into the Ross County roadways during the time frame Saturday, but says any county resident can participate by submitting a photo on the F.L.A.D. Facebook event page.

To sign up for a drive by in your neighborhood, send your address to the F.L.A.D. Event Page on Facebook (see below).

https://www.facebook.com/LitterMedia/posts/515706302435439
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201 Ross Countians Tested, 21 Positve for COVID-19

***UPDATED at 5:00pm 4-15-2020

The Ross County Health District reported Wednesday morning a the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county is 21, roughly 10 percent of those tested.

The RCHD reports 201 residents have been tested, 167 have returned negative with 13 suspected (awaiting test results). Among the positives, 13 males and eight females.

Ohio reports 7,791 cases in 87 of 88 counties (0 in Vinton County). The death toll stands at 361 as of 2pm Wednesday. Pickaway County’s number skyrocketed to 172 cases. Mostly due to Pickaway County Correctional Institution’s population.

Governor DeWine announced in his news briefing Wednesday, two more inmates at the facility have died.

At this time, the Ohio Department of Corrections is handling the numbers of COVID-19 cases for their respective institutions.

According to the state dashboard figures (Wednesday afternoon), Chillicothe Correctional Institution has two inmates in isolation, but no positive test results. There are none reported at Ross Correctional Institution. Pickaway CCI is the hardest hit thus far with 74 inmates having tested positive and 94 in isolation.

Litter Media visited with the RCHD in a special report Tuesday (see video).

RCHD encourages the public to continue to stay home with the exception for essential travel, practice physical distancing and washing hands often.

In the featured photo (above), a look at a nearly empty Water Street-Paint Street intersection in downtown Chillicothe, taken Wednesday morning which normally boasts activity on the city’s streets.