'Take care of our families as well as yours': Sumter health care providers talk patient, family prep during Tropical Storm Debby

As Tropical Storm Debby creeps toward South Carolina, communities are bracing for its heavy rain and potential flooding. Amid the preparation, health care providers face a different challenge: how to prioritize patient care and safety when physical offices must close.

Tandem Health closed all offices at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and reopened at 10 a.m. Wednesday to work regular office hours until 5 p.m. to ensure patients can be seen and needs are met. Director of Community Development Holly Chase said the Tandem leadership team will make a decision Wednesday afternoon regarding operations for Thursday.

Health care providers also face the dual challenge of not only ensuring the safety and care of their patients, but their families as well during bad weather conditions.

Dr. Joel Snipe, obstetrician and gynecologist at Tandem Health OBGYN and a mother of two, has gathered a wealth of experience through training and practice in hurricane-prone areas, from training at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston to fulfilling her residency at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina.

“The hospital doesn’t close, and babies don’t stop coming. Sometimes they come a little bit more during storms,” she said.

Ensuring continuous care of patients is their primary concern. In hospitals, there is always someone caring for patients, whether it's doctors from each group in town or on-call doctors, Snipe said. In severe weather, hospitals enter “lockdown mode,” which includes staying on site for extended shifts to be readily available for any emergencies.

Now in private practice with Tandem Health since 2008, Snipe explained the steps taken for storm preparation are not that different.

“We called in anyone who is closer to delivery or has an urgent need to be seen. We encourage all our patients and sent out text alerts, and we use a system called Luma, which notifies patients of office hour adjustments so they'll know when their appointments are canceled or rescheduled. We also have our pharmacy on site at Tandem OBGYN, so we advised all patients earlier this week to go ahead and get all their medications filled ahead of time. Then, we have an on-call number that's available 24-7, regardless of the office being open, for moms to call in that need help,” Snipe explained. “We just try to communicate well with the patient so that they can find us and get help as soon as they need it.”

Balancing professional duties with personal responsibilities – like families of their own -  is another significant challenge health care providers and their staff face. During these times, grandparents, aunts, babysitters and so on all lend a helping hand and ease the worry that comes with the separation. Snipe also remembered how families of health care workers were allowed to stay at hospitals during hurricanes and severe weather.

“We are 100% dedicated to making sure all moms and babies are safe, but we also want to make sure our babies at home are safe. There's always that balance of making sure we take care of our families as well as yours. I guess we do it sometimes without even thinking about it because it's such a routine.”