McHenry Times

Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital's vice president and chief nursing executive is saluting all the “hidden heroes” among health care workers in the fight against COVID-19.

“They are really important to us because they ensure that we have the safe, physical environment that we need to care for this population,” Catie Schmit said of staffers like those in Northwestern’s facilities department.

Schmit told the Northwest Herald that employees from her department have worked day and night in converting at least 42 of the hospital’s regular patient rooms into “negative airflow rooms,” bringing the facility’s total up to 54 of the specially ventilated rooms. Schmit said such rooms are typically reserved for coronanvirus patients who require “aerosol generating procedures” or procedures that cause virus particles or “droplet nuclei” to be released into the air from coughing or sneezing.

“I am just so extremely proud of our team,” Schmit added. “We are in challenging times right now, but the way the team has come together here for the community has been nothing short of inspirational.”

Schmit said the same can be said of the hospital’s biomed and IT departments, both of which are critical to creating a safe environment for patients and staff.

“We’ve all worked so hard and so great as a team, and it just goes to show that we’re really providing the best possible care to our patients,” director of facilities Dylan Degraw said. “It feels really good to be able to help.”

Finally, Schmit signaled out the likes of the hospital’s cafeteria workers, where staffers have gone the extra mile by creating and stocking a small store with grocery items for nurses and doctors routinely working 12-hour days.

“So, if there’s a silver lining in this, it’s that our team is stronger than ever,” Schmit said.