The Real Story: A Second Chance at Life after COVID

05/24/22 • 16 min

Rachel Watson is a survivor. Last year Rachel and her husband David fell ill with COVID-19. Though David recovered without intervention, Rachel needed extreme measures. When HCA Florida West Marion Hospital received Rachel she was immediately placed on oxygen, but it wasn’t enough. She was transferred to another HCA Florida facility, HCA Florida North Florida and placed on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine where she remained for 89 days. The family credits hospital integration and outstanding caregivers for saving her life. Rachel and David joined Chip to share the story of her care and recovery on the Federation’s new campaign, The Real Story. Learn more about The Real Story at fah.org/TheRealStory.

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The Real Story: Courtney Clarke, RN

Courtney Clarke is a nurse at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset Kentucky and her efforts to help a patient and protect her kids during treatment made such an impact that she was recognized by the state’s governor. The Federation’s new campaign is embarking on a mission to tell The Real Story of hospitals through the eyes of patients and caregivers. Courtney’s story is our first.

Learn more about The Real Story at fah.org/TheRealStory.

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COVID-19: Hospital’s New Normal

Hospitals have learned a lot about treating COVID-19 since the world first learned of the novel disease at the end of 2019. Integrated hospital systems worked together to share knowledge and best practices to treat this disease at unprecedented speeds and the advancements continue to come. Out of these advancements is a new normal for our hospitals. Chip spoke with Dr. Michael Cuffe and Prof. Martin McKee about what hospitals are experiencing now and how governments in both the UK and US can support them moving into the future.

Martin McKee is a Professor of European Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and soon-to-be president of the British Medical Association.

Dr. Michael Cuffe is the Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for HCA Healthcare, the largest integrated health system in the US.