PHOTO PROVIDED
Thomas Hamblin, RN, infection control coordinator at the Veterans Affairs Illiana Healthcare System, works in the Incident Command
Center to manage the day-to-day operations for COVID-19 activities.
In his job as infection control and
prevention coordinator, he applies
Centers for Disease Control and Illinois
Department of Public Health
guidelines to prevent infections within
the VA facility, using evidence-based
strategies. This includes creating
policies and procedures for infection
surveillance, data collection, tracking
and reporting.
The coronavirus has put Infection
Control at the forefront for all of the
health-care industry, he said.
“The pandemic has created issues
and obstacles that the VA has never
faced. With the help and guidance
from leadership, we were able to develop
solutions to keep our veterans
safe and free from the virus,” he said.
While the virus has affected his job,
it’s also had an impact on his personal
life.
“The pandemic has affected me
from a personal perspective by claiming
the life of a very good man who
was part of my extended family,” he
said. Also, “it has been difficult to be
with my 84-year-old father, as well
as my grandkids, for fear of possibly
spreading the virus.”
How does he handle that fear?
“Initially my anxiety was high —
not for fear of the virus — but being
put in the spotlight from an Infection
Control aspect. Shortly into this
pandemic, my anxieties were lessened
because of the current Infection Control
Programs the VA had in place and
the support provided by our leadership,”
he said.
Once the worst of this experience
has passed, Hamblin said, “What I will
remember most is how this pandemic
has reshaped the health-care industry
and our nation.” Examples include
wearing masks, social distancing, stayat-home
orders and the basic shutdown
of lives, he said.
JILL ANDERSON
Anderson has worked in the Illiana
System for eight years.
As emergency manager, she’s responsible
for the continuity of operations
and disaster response planning
for both natural and man-made
hazards. She’s responsible for conducting
facility-wide exercises and drills to
ensure safety of patients and staff.
Anderson also manages the Disaster
Emergency Medical Personnel System
(DEMPS), which is the VA’s main
deployment program for clinical and
non-clinical staff to provide support
during an emergency or disaster.
DEMPS can be used for internal VA
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