June 9, 2020
Many AHS employees have hit the road to temporarily work at new sites as part of redeployment rotations designed to help in the COVID-19 response.
Story by Melissa Ballantyne
Real collaboration, quick thinking on your feet and unwavering support for one another in dark times.
These are some of the key takeaways Ashlyn Frandsen is reflecting on as she readies to make the five-and-a-half-hour drive north to McLennan for her second redeployment rotation to lend a helping hand at the COVID-19 stricken Manoir du Lac continuing care facility.
“Six weeks ago, I didn’t exactly know where McLennan was,” says the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who calls Central Zone home. “Now, I’m looking forward to going back” to the northern Alberta town and its population of about 700.
On April 19, two days after Alberta Health Services (AHS) took over day-to-day operations at Manoir du Lac in McLennan, Ashlyn and her sister Karianne Frandsen, a Health Care Aide (HCA), answered the call for volunteers to be redeployed to the site.
The redeployment of willing staff is part of AHS’ effort to further improve outbreak control — and to bolster infection prevention and control measures and staffing in response to the site’s COVID-19 outbreak. A series of concerns around staffing at the private facility, as well as concerns with care standards, necessary COVID-19 screening and PPE rules not being properly followed contributed to AHS’ extraordinary step of assuming operations of the facility, where sadly COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 10 residents to date. Another 43 residents and 18 staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
“We live together and have really flexible schedules, so we thought if we can help out somewhere that really needs it, why wouldn’t we?” says Ashlyn. “We’re also fortunate to be in a place where it’s super easy for us to isolate if we got sick, so we thought, ‘yes … sign us up to help!’”
The sisters were contacted by Human Resources Business Partnerships (HRBP) on a Sunday, and the next day their car was packed and headed north.
The pair arrived for what they thought would be a four-day stretch, but ended up helping out four days a week over a two-week period.
“We came into the throes of a highly stressful and a very emotional environment,” recalls Ashlyn. “Residents were scared and confused. Families were constantly calling for updates, asking lots of questions and were really worried about their loved ones.”
Ashlyn pooled her efforts with those of other AHS staff from across the province who had answered the call. Each had their own ideas, processes, and suggestions about how to handle the rapidly evolving – and highly emotional – situation they were now in.
“The first day was a bit of madness,” Ashlyn says candidly. “There was so much to go through and figure out in one orientation shift — from the communication processes, charting and trying to understand what each resident’s normal state or baseline is.
“Someone described it as ‘building the plane as we fly it’ — and I think that’s a perfect description.”
In the days that followed, however, Ashlyn says an extraordinary level of camaraderie grew within the group. They fine-tuned their structure and flow, and developed communication processes such as journaling reports to ensure anyone reviewing could get a clear understanding of each resident and their personal needs.
“The teamwork has been absolutely amazing,” says Ashlyn. “Quite literally, strangers came together with the goal of helping the staff and residents at this site, and now, we’re bonded.
“We’re teammates and friends.”
For Janice Stewart, Chief Zone Officer for Central Zone, the willingness of staff such as Ashlyn and Karianne to help out in areas hit hard by COVID-19 exemplifies the spirit of healthcare providers.
“There is an incredible sense of compassion and willingness to help others in the face of challenges in AHS — be it fire, flood or pandemic,” says Janice. “We’re grateful and we’re proud of the way staff and physicians have put their hand up and said — ‘I’ll help’ — when colleagues have been in need.”
As the Frandsen sisters pack up for their return trip to McLennan, Ashlyn adds she’s looking forward to seeing the faces of the residents, especially those who were just coming off isolation at the end of her last shift. She’s excited to help them get back to a more normal routine and to see how far everything has come.
“Redeployment isn’t for everyone. The location and the people are unfamiliar and there’s so much to learn and to adapt to all at once. But it can be an amazing experience,” she says.
“I’m glad I’ve been able to help.”
