UNC Lenoir CEO: "I am proud of the heroic work the UNC Lenoir team continues to do"

With 345 reported cases of COVID-19 in Lenoir County as of June 25, the capacity of UNC Lenoir Health Care to deal with the number of patients is an important factor.

According to UNC Lenoir Marketing Coordinator Barbara LaRoque, the hospital has handled the current volume of COVID-19 patients well.

“At the onset of our preparations for the pandemic, we created several different strategies to care for volumes based on different scenarios,” said LaRoque.

The CDC currently reports 79 cases and two deaths in the 28501 zip code. In the 28504 zip code, there are 140 cases and five deaths. Lenoir County has had one outbreak at a nursing home and two at residential care facilities.

One factor that has helped UNC Lenoir in handling the COVID-19 pandemic is that the hospital has had a decrease in their overall patient population. This makes additional resources available to care for COVID-19 patients needing hospital care.

“We have a designated 14 bed unit for these patients,” LaRoque said. “We also have critical care beds that can be dedicated to treat very sick COVID patients. As of Tuesday, there were 10 COVID patients at UNC Lenoir.”

In North Carolina, the numbers of new cases and hospitalization are both on the rise. If Lenoir County follows the statewide trends, UNC Lenoir is prepared.

“If the designated unit we have now is outgrown, we have a plan to take care of those patients in other appropriate areas of our hospital. We have bed space that we are not using at this time,” LaRoque said.

In a recent statement to employees, Robert Enders, president and CEO of UNC Lenoir said, “As we continue with this ‘new normal’ of screenings, masks and COVID updates, I am proud of the heroic work the UNC Lenoir team continues to do to take care of our patients. You have all acclimated to the new way we deliver care and embraced the important roles you have in the delivery of care and the healing of patients. UNC Lenoir is a great hospital and I am proud to be a part of this team.”

UNC Lenoir has received an outpouring of support from the community. Area businesses have provided meals, sweet treats, drinks, face shields, HEPA filters and air scrubbers and many other supplies.