Salinas Valley Health Launches Innovative Program

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

Staff Supports Community During COVID 19 Crisis

During the COVID 19 pandemic, the dedicated staff at Salinas Valley Health is doing what the team does best – care for the community. Now, the launch of an innovative program extends the frontline efforts far beyond the hospital campus as skilled health care professionals at Salinas Valley Health take a familiar step directly into the community they serve.

“The heart of our Healthcare System is our trained and compassionate staff,” says Pete Delgado, President/CEO of Salinas Valley Health. “They amaze me every day and I couldn’t be more proud of how they live out our organization’s commitment to community service.”

Inspired by the thousands of hours of time the staff personally donates to community service each year, the Healthcare System has created the Salinas Valley Health Community and Staff Support Project. The project redeploys its valuable workforce to support families, at risk populations and non-profit organizations in need of people willing to help where it’s needed most. Staff signing up for those approved education and outreach efforts receive their regular pay and benefits for that community service.

“A lot of my friends have been laid off from their job or had their hours cut because business has slowed down everywhere,” said Patient Advocate, Olga Morales. “I feel fortunate to be with an organization that made an effort to use my skills in another area.”

The Salinas Valley Health Community and Staff Support Project addresses the significant decrease in the need for full staffing levels as the stay at home order is reflected in a reduced demand for traditional healthcare services. Salinas Valley Health’s additional safety measures during the COVID 19 outbreak has eliminated staff needs dedicated to elective surgeries and non-urgent outpatient services.

“COVID-19 is changing many things about our lives, our community and our healthcare system,” Delgado says. “Our challenge is to find ways for those changes to benefit our patients, our staff and the community we call home. We think this unique solution makes the most of the talent we’re blessed to have in our organization and taps into their extraordinary service to our community.”

Salinas Valley Health has a redeployment process for staff to apply for qualified outreach positions in the hospital and in the community. Organizations and non-profits with opportunities for support can get more information and submit a request at www.svmh.com/support.