A note from the Medical University of South Carolina:
MUSC partners and friends:
Our hearts are with those affected by the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At times like this, it is especially important to pull together and take action thoughtfully and collaboratively.
Our entire MUSC family has been working around the clock, both on the front lines and behind the scenes, at our patients’ bedsides, in our labs, in the community and even at home, to minimize this pandemic’s impacts and bring it to a timely end.
Many of our initiatives, including being the first in the nation to couple virtual screening and a drive-through specimen collection service, have placed MUSC at the forefront of the country’s efforts to address the virus. Our senior leadership team has been encouraged, inspired and invigorated by our teams’ commitment, resourcefulness, and spirit of innovation. And, as we all know, there is still so much more work to do.
MUSC is grateful for your partnership and collaboration, and many of you have asked how you can help during this time. I’d like to outline a few tangible ways you, your organization and your broader network can contribute to flattening the curve in South Carolina and supporting MUSC’s role in fighting coronavirus:
- Contribute supplies and equipment for MUSC patients and health care workers. These could be excess items you have on hand or items you can create through innovative technology like 3-D printing. The list of the items we need most as well as frequently asked questions is updated regularly. If you have items on the list you’d like to donate, reply to this email and we’ll ensure coordination with our supply chain team.
- Make a donation to the MUSC COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. Funds will be used for mission-critical initiatives over the coming weeks.
- Give blood. We expect national shortages within the next 7-14 days. American Red Cross and Blood Connection have donation sites up and running all over the country and are adhering to social distancing and other recommendations.
- Stay home. Social distance. Hand-wash frequently. Self-monitor. Use virtual screening tools if you develop symptoms. South Carolinians can receive free virtual screening with the promo code COVID19.
- Spread the word, not the virus! On your personal and business social media accounts, please encourage your employees, networks and friends to model and share their examples of self-isolation, appropriate social distancing activities, and creative and inspiring ways people are working to flatten the curve. (In South Carolina, please use #FlattenTheCurveSC, as it is being monitored as part of a public awareness campaign.)
