We Didn’t Break
The Logistics team delivered
Clint Wenger, Sr. Director of Support Services and Logistics, served as a supply officer in the Navy, so he knows a thing or two about the importance of getting supplies to where they need to be. During the various pandemic surges, the Logistics department – a team that’s largely behind the scenes – was counted on to transport supplies wherever they were needed despite many obstacles. “Our teams kept on bending and we didn’t break,” said Wenger. “It was quite impressive how far our department bent to get the job done.”
Eric Eveslage, Director of Logistics, trusted his team and they delivered. “There was work that had to be done and we had to do it,” he said. “We were fortunate to be surrounded by so many great people at CentraCare, whether it’s folks in logistics and support services, or people taking care of patients. Everyone was remarkable.”
Fundamentals
The team’s work is on-site and in-person, so when staffing challenges hit, they had to prioritize. “There were times we were down to half our staff,” Eveslage recalls. “And that’s when activity was oftentimes up. At one point we were handling 1,000 more pallets at offsite warehouses than we were used to dealing with,” he said. Another month, he recalls the document services team printing, processing and mailing 85,000 COVID letters. “We had to think differently and quite frankly, had to experiment a few times. Not all our experiments succeeded, but we learned something each time and it helped us come back the next day and do better.”
As things got hectic, the team focused on fundamentals. “Sometimes you have to go back to the basics,” he added. “For us, that was having more personal conversations and trying to remove variables wherever we could so people could just get what they needed.”
Learnings
For Wenger, working through adversity as a team was eye-opening. “I knew we had a great team, but it surprised me how much we could do. We didn’t know if it would be possible, but we found out it was quite possible. And it was impressive.”
Eveslage says an example of how the team stepped up was their efforts to improve inventory accuracy. “In a crisis, you need to know what you have available and what you don’t,” he explained. So they did a physical inventory of every single item in distribution and offsite warehouses – roughly 4,000 items.
Everett Bragelman, inventory services lead, was part of that effort. “We were finding that our inventory numbers were off due to various reasons, so we took two days – a Saturday and Sunday – to document everything,” he said. “A team of about 25 of us just tore apart the whole distribution center and did a complete inventory. And when that was done, we did an item-by-item inventory at the hospital too.”
The work was tedious, but important. “I was impressed with how many people offered to come in that weekend to help,” Bragelman added. “Initially, the thinking was that it would take one day, but it took two full days. It was quite an accomplishment and as a result, we’re in a much better place today.”
Purpose
It has become very clear how important the logistics team is to the organization and the community. “We knew how important this work was be before the pandemic,” said Wenger. “But it just highlighted the group’s contribution to taking care of people in the community too.”
The courier team is a great example of this. “Whether it was providing supplies to vaccine clinics or getting lab results back to St. Cloud Hospital, the efforts touched everybody,” said Eveslage. The courier team also delivered those first COVID vaccines, which was exciting. “How cool is that mission,” added Eveslage. “You’re driving down the highway with these vaccines and everyone is happy to see you when you arrive.”
Dave Johnson is one of the courier drivers who delivered some of the first vaccines for CentraCare. “The vaccines were packed in Styrofoam coolers that had a special thermometer that would beep,” he recalls. “I remember delivering them to the Southpoint Clinic and you could see how excited people were, waiting in line to get their vaccine. It was surreal. It’s just part of our job, but when you look at the big picture, you realize that you were doing something very important.”
Eveslage is proud of how his team cares about their work and how they see the connection to a bigger purpose of serving patients. “Our team sacrificed a lot. We’re not unique in that regard as so many teams gave so much, but the effort our team put forward was remarkable. And they did it for the right reasons.”
This is a wonderful example of resilience and teamwork. Thank you for your leadership, Clint, Eric, and Everett! You are appreciated.
Thank you all for stepping up as needed to make things happen. What great teamwork!
It’s great reading things that recognize the people behind the scenes and show appreciation for all they do. Every job affects another and we’re all part of a great team. You are all so appreciated.
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
As the Inventory Control person overseeing the Respiratory Department and CICU, I was faced with many new challenges. During the height of the pandemic every hospital in the nation was trying to procure the same items. This made for extreme supply shortages.
Working with Peggy Lange Director of Respiratory Care, Roxann Bohman Distibution Lead, and the Procurement Team, we were able to deliver the critically needed items that were difficult to find. Often times a substitute product had to be used. And, the quantities needed to keep on hand were increased multifold.
Through many long days and sleepless nights, our behind the scenes team stepped up and came through for our patients. Every day I checked the quantities on hand of these critical items and worked to procure them and get them up to the floors. Showing up early and staying late was never a problem as I realized the importance of my role.
Truely, the trial by fire atmosphere bonded this team as we all pulled together. All the nursing staff on the floors were apreciative and understanding and worked with me directly each day.
I am impressed and humbled by the team work, cooperation, and compassion shown at every level.
What great team work, you are the best!
This story gave me all the feels this morning. We often say that no matter what job you do at CentraCare, you save lives and this is a shining example. Your team saves lives everyday by getting stuff where it needs to be when it needs to be there. Amazing work through Covid and EVERY SINGLE DAY. Deep gratitude for all of you.