New Baptist Health Downtown President addresses third COVID surge

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Nicole Thomas, who was appointed the new President of Baptist Health Downtown on Friday, spoke with Rich Jones on Jacksonville’s Morning News as part of the 8:00 spotlight.

Thomas said her priority is getting her team through this third surge of COVID-19. “I’m reminded of the July 2020 peak, when we only had 194 patients and we thought that was a lot.” Thomas added, “This morning, 584 patients hospitalized in the Baptist Health system with COVID and that over 50% of our beds and the average age is 52, and were tracking with a 9% mortality rate. Thomas emphasized the severity of the cases, by mentioning Baptist Health had to “bring in supplemental oxygen to help support the high flow and ventilated patients.”

PODCAST: You can hear the full interview with Rich Jones here.

When it came to projections, Thomas said “The projected model suggests that Baptist Health can expect up to 700 patients,” Baptist is planning to help those extra patients by adding care expansion spaces, ask staff to work extra hours and hiring traveling nurses. Thomas emphasized “The community can help by getting their COVID vaccine. Over 90% of the patients who are hospitalized, are not vaccinated,” then adding “continue to wear your mask, physical distance and practice good hand hygiene.”

Thomas expects some turnaround once everything is done and said Baptist Health has partnered with Jacksonville University to start an accelerated RN (registered nurse) program for anyone with a 4 year degree. It’s a 12 month program to get a nursing license and join Baptist Health.

Nicole Thomas joined Baptist Health in 2011 and, in 2016, became the first African American and female president to lead a Baptist Health hospital.

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