Without Susan’s help and continued assistance it would have been very difficult to implement an employee screening program so quickly, and to continue to operate the impressive program that we have in place
Of all the things Susan Bordges has learned about herself over the years, one thing is definite: She knows how to work in crisis situations.
The community resource program manager at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, Bordges has helped set up volunteers to go to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and worked fire watch shift at the hospital after storms caused flooding and other damage. Now she finds herself in the midst of helping ESH deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bordges’ extra efforts began March 16 and include assisting in the creation of five employee screening locations, restocking supplies, screening staff for the virus and helping in any way she can.
“I don’t think of it as something extra,” said Bordges, who has been with DSHS for nearly 18 years. “I just see the other people, and they’re working hard and they need some kind of support, and I can give that so they can take care of the patients or help in admin.”
Bordges may not see her efforts to be anything beyond the call of duty, but ESH Director of Organizational Development and Communications Joey Frost said Bordges has been a crucial piece in keeping the hospital’s staff and patients safe.
“Without Susan’s help and continued assistance it would have been very difficult to implement an employee screening program so quickly, and to continue to operate the impressive program that we have in place,” Frost said.
As a seasoned crisis worker, Bordges said she doesn’t worry about contracting the disease.
“I don’t really pay attention to the risk part,” she said. “I think it’s because of faith, and I just try to do what I can to support the team.”
