Lancaster hospital workers tell Channel 9 they’re working in fear amid pandemic

LANCASTER, S.C. — Some employees at a local hospital said they don’t feel safe on the job. MUSC-Health Lancaster said it’s protecting employees and has strict protocols in place.

However, some workers told Channel 9 they don’t have enough safety equipment and feel like they’ll lose their jobs if they speak up about working conditions.

Several employees spoke to Channel 9 anonymously. Some said there’s not enough personal protective equipment (PPE) in use, and in emergency situations, they’ve had to enter patient’s rooms without it.

They’re also concerned about what they might bring home to their families after their shift. This is a national issue in the health care field that has even led to protests by nurses in some larger cities.

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MUSC Health-Lancaster CEO Page Vaughan sent Channel 9 a statement in response to our questions about working conditions at the hospital.

The statement did not specifically answer questions, but did mention the high stress and anxiety workers in the medical field are under.

“COVID-19 related guidelines and policies as a whole are in a constant state of change and revised daily, and in some cases hourly,” the statement said. “We recognize that our care team members are experiencing anxiety and stress as we move closer to a potential patient surge... Lingering uncertainty that still remains around the virus and its prevalence in the community is also a heavyweight for all. We also recognize that in asking our local care team members to do things differently than our normal protocols, some individuals may experience even higher levels of anxiety and stress.”

Vaughan also said despite stressful times, very few people have called out of work sick.

As for PPE gear, he said they are following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and limiting their use. That way, they can be used when needed if there’s a surge in COVID-19 patients.

The hospital has only treated two positive patients at this time. The second one was announced on Wednesday.