Dr. Hackstedde: Getting Ready for ‘New Normal’

Anita A. Hackstedde, M.D., president and chief executive officer at Salem Regional Medical Center, is hanging tough. You can read more about Salem Regional at its website.

What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has changed your work life?

I now spend the majority of my day working through the daily challenges of being at the forefront of this disease. In the beginning, there were countless hours devoted to ramping up for an influx of critically ill patients and I am very proud of our team of physicians and staff, who worked so hard to make sure that we were ready. Now, we are focusing on returning to a “new normal” and the gradual reopening of medically necessary elective surgeries and other needed procedures. As this epidemic has unfolded, we have maintained an enhanced focus on the health and safety of our patients, staff and physicians as our top priority.

How about your personal life?

There have been many long hours, nights and weekends for me and our entire preparedness team. I look forward to coming home and enjoying the time I get to spend with my family and my dog, Harley.

What steps are you taking to hang tough?

I try to make every decision with the right focus in mind. When making decisions about the hospital, my top priority is the safety of our patients and staff – you can’t really make a wrong decision if you’re focusing on the right priorities.

Personally, I try to keep myself healthy – exercise relieves my stress, as does creative expression, and I like to sketch portraits. I also enjoy spending time and talking with my family — keeping them upbeat keeps me upbeat.

What advice are you sharing with the people you love?

I encourage them to think about what they can control and take action on those items. Don’t worry about what you can’t control since that leads to anxiousness. For example, people can control their actions like, “I can wash my hands, I can protect myself and my family, I can make decisions with the right focus.”

My other word of advice is to limit TV exposure in order to maintain your perspective and balance. In time, this is going to pass. Yes, there will be new changes but it will always be important to continue to connect with others and enjoy the many blessings of life.