Busy year for Blanchard Valley Hospital

Blanchard Valley Hospital System has had a busy — and challenging — year. "It started out with just the continuation of COVID-19," said BVHS CEO and President Myron Lewis, "then by March, we started getting all these pressures of inflation. And that rolled over to the organization and jobs and just a general shortage that we found across all industries. And certainly we weren't immune to that." The hospital saw their COVID-19 case numbers fall, and rise again in the autumn months, around the Thanksgiving holiday. "Then we started hearing about the 'tripledemic,'" Lewis said. "RSV, the flu (and) COVID. That's how we ended the year. So from bookmark to bookmark, I don't know that anybody could have predicted all that." During the week of Dec. 12, there were 17 hospitalizations at Blanchard Valley Hospital due to COVID-19. Fourteen of the seventeen cases were symptomatic. Flu activity in Hancock County that month was almost 70% higher than the five-year average, as reported by Hancock Public Health. Today, COVID-19 cases in Hancock County are low, as well as flu cases across Ohio. Despite the obstacles, BVHS continued to serve the community and their employees throughout the year, said Lewis. "We really have been focusing on, with all these external pressures happening, strengthening our base, making sure our operations are strong," he said. BVHS started several employee initiatives in 2022. For example, colorful hexagons were installed outside the main campus pavilion on South Main Street. The art represents the various and different people who work, and are served, at BVHS. The hospital system also commemorated the experiences of employees and patients throughout the coronavirus pandemic by installing the "Ring of Remembrance" outside the east entrance of the Donnell Pavilion in November. The sculpture was designed by local artist Brandon Barnett. "I think that (in) 2022, even though through all those external pressures, (we) started to revalidate our purpose and our mission, and our vision, and our values," Lewis said. "And though it's easy to say, that means a lot. Our people are so important to what we do." In the upcoming months, the hospital system will expand The Armes Family Cancer Care Center. The Orion Care Center recently merged with the AFCCC. "We'll be doing a capital campaign to continue to make sure we have the most up-to-date strategy, our technology and services," Lewis said. "That's pretty exciting to be able to grow in that realm." With these accomplishments and a new year ahead, Lewis is hopeful for the future of BVHS. "We have this bright future, stepping out of the backdrop of COVID and inflation and all these things as we continue to move forward," he said.