Featured in The Anniston Star, written by Faith Dorn
RMC COVID response leader Bridgette Magouirk speaks in a negative pressure room in the outpatient COVID treatment area at the Tyler Center in Anniston. Photo by Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star
Bridgette Magouirk is Director of Regional Medical Center Occupational Health, Wellness, Wellness Extension and Employee Health. She is also an instrumental person in our area’s response to the pandemic.
Why did you want to work at a hospital? The summer before my fifth grade year, I experienced a life changing injury to my right leg by a riding lawn mower. I spent my entire summer with nurses, doctors and aides. Although I was terrified by my injury, my surroundings and the multiple surgeries, I remember the kindness the RMC healthcare workers provided me that summer. My mother worked full time, so the nurses would roll my hospital bed to the nurses’ station so that I wouldn’t be alone while everyone was working. They encouraged me to make friends with the other patients on the unit, so I could have some interactions with other children. Although the names of those healthcare workers have escaped my memory, the way they cared for me left a lasting impression.
RMC COVID response leader Bridgette Magouirk speaks in a negative pressure room in the outpatient COVID treatment area at the Tyler Center in Anniston. Photo by Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star
What was a typical work day like for you prior to the pandemic? I am very involved with my teams. Often, I began my day with managerial duties to include daily schedules and inventories of supplies and staffing requirements to ensure all clinics run efficiently. I may spend several hours a day or several days a week assisting a local company with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules to ensure compliance with regards to workplace hazards such as noise exposures, blood and body fluid exposures or drug screening requirements.
How has your job changed since the beginning of the pandemic? These unprecedented times have allowed unprecedented ideas. I, along with several team members, created a call center for the county to assist in testing appointments, COVID-19 questions and relaying results.
I have been given the opportunity to pioneer the Wellness Extension, a negative pressure area where we assist RMC employees, dependents and local industries with COVID-19 self-swab specimen collections, treatment and return to work physicals.
Bridgette Magouirk
Hometown: Anniston
Favorite actor: Denzel Washington
Favorite actress: Sissy Spacek
Favorite author: Rick Bragg
Favorite book: “The Wednesday Letters”
Favorite film: “The Color Purple”
Favorite music: Country
Favorite podcast: “Osterholm Update” – CIDRAP
Favorite television show: “The Crown”
What did you want to be when you grew up? Opera singer
Advice: Treat everyone with respect — from the person who mops the floors to the CEO.
Once the COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody treatments became available, we expanded the Wellness Extension to administer infusions on COVID-19 positive patients who are at risk for severe illness due to their current health conditions.
What is your involvement with the RMC Vaccination Task Force? Currently, as a member of the RMC Vaccination Task Force, we have the responsibility to assist our employees to get vaccinated, as well as other high risk groups in or out of the area who are interested. I am the hospital liaison for the Calhoun County Unified Command.
What is the response from the community so far? My experience and impression is the community is positive and eager to receive the vaccine. I estimate upwards of 9,000 people have been vaccinated. This number does not include those receiving the vaccine at the Calhoun County Health Department.
Who is eligible for a vaccine as of Wednesday, March 3? See the most current information on the Alabama Department of Public Health’s website, https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/index.html.
Are there vaccines available every day? Our supply is not such that we can offer the vaccine daily.
What is the process for an eligible person to be vaccinated? The process for our most recent mass vaccination clinic for Feb. 8-Feb. 12 offered the individual to register for a specific day, time, or location through the Eventbrite website or app. Our process is fluid and may change based on supply and allocation guidelines, even so there are no referrals necessary.
What are you passionate about? I have a passion for community — a community of people, community of business, and getting the job done!
Is there anything else you would like to add? Thank you to my team members without each of you, our efforts would be minimal. You are the true heroes! Thank you to RMC OHC, Wellness & Wellness Extension, Tammy Boozer, the RMC Foundation, Lydia Estes and the pharmacy team, Dewayne Oden and the EVS team, Pete Furlow and the IT team, RMC Chaplain Volunteers, Mark Cova and the plant operations team, Leslie Thompson and the registration team, Arlon Sheffield and the laboratory team, Kim Williamson and the business office, Wendy Watson, Donna Crew, Sara Johnson, Dr. Davenport, medical students, and every nurse manager and nurse who has assisted with vaccine clinics.