Allegheny Valley Hospital dedicates tree to honor covid patients, staff

A white birch tree was planted in front of Harrison’s Allegheny Valley Hospital on Thursday to honor those who lost their lives to covid — and to honor the nurses, doctors and staff members who cared for them.

“The tree is a symbol of hope: the tree of life. It’s a reminder to us of how difficult last year was, but yet we were able to overcome it,” AVH Chief Operating Officer Krista Bragg said during a dedication ceremony attended by about 40 hospital employees.

Allegheny Health Network’s nine hospitals are dedicating commemorative trees throughout the week. The observations coincide with National Hospital Week and National Nurses Week.

AVH’s white birch is planted near the hospital’s entrance with a plaque that reads: “In loving memory of those who are forever in our hearts.”

Bragg said all of the hospital’s employees helped it handle an onslaught of covid patients, from the doctors and nurses to construction workers who quickly converted hospital space into negative air pressure rooms.

Medical staffers set up an area dubbed Tranquility Bay with massage chairs to help workers de-stress.

“We saw patients go from mild symptoms to needing to go to the ICU in a 12-hour shift,” said Brittany Bargerstock, an AVH nurse. “We sat by their bedsides to calm the nerves of the patients who were scared and alone, and we had to provide reassurance to their family members who couldn’t be with them.”

In the end, the medical staff banded together and provided the “best care we could possibly give,” she said.

Allegheny Valley treated about 500 covid patients from November through March, and 42 of them died, AVH spokeswoman JoAnne Clobus said.

The hospital is now treating four covid patients, Bragg said.

None of the current patients is fully vaccinated, and Dr. William Bailey, AVH’s chief medical officer, said the hospital has not yet treated a patient who was fully vaccinated.

“Our message is, please get vaccinated,” Bailey said.