MAJOR SUPPORT FOR CAROLINA BUSINESS REVIEW IS PRESENTED BY COLONIAL LIFE.

HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY THE PREMIER LIFE SKILLS UNIVERSITY FOCUSED ON PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE WORLD AS IT IS GOING TO BE.

A PROVIDER OF PACKAGING SERVICES WITH MORE THAN 300 OPERATIONS IN 35 COUNTRIES.

VACCINATION IS BECOMING A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

COULD JUST SPREAD TO OTHER INDUSTRIES BESIDES HOSPITALS?

WELCOME TO THE MOST WIDELY WATCHED AND LONGEST-RUNNING PROGRAM ON CAROLINA BUSINESS POLICY.

IN A MOMENT WE ARE GOING TO START OUR DIALOGUE AROUND THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON NOW.

WE WILL START NOW.

PROVIDING THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH OUR COMMUNITIES IMPROVE AND GROW.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

THE DUKE ENDOWMENT A PRIVATE FOUNDATION IN THE CAROLINAS THROUGH RURAL CHURCHES AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES.

ON THIS EDITION OF CAROLINA BUSINESS REVIEW.

CEO OF:HEALTH.

HAPPY FALL AND WELCOME TO OUR DIALOGUE.

THIS IDEA ABOUT LABOR AND A LABOR SHORTAGE IT WAS A LABOR SHORTAGE 18 MONTHS AGO.

NOW WOULD YOU CALL THIS A CRISIS I WOULDN'T CALL IT A CRISIS.

BUT IT'S A LARGE CHALLENGE.

THIS HAS TESTED EVERY BUSINESS OUT THERE IN SO MANY WAYS I WOULD DESCRIBE THIS AS LIFE ON MARS.

LOOKING AT THIS DURING A SHUTDOWN SEGMENT AND PARENTS TRYING TO REMAIN A CAREER WHILE HOMESCHOOLING CHILDREN AND ELDER CARE.

THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT'S BEEN SO CHALLENGING FOR ALL OF US.

THE RETAIL SECTOR HAS BEEN BRUTALIZED.

'S COMPANIES WERE HEADQUARTERED IN CHARLESTON ACTUALLY HAVE A ROLE IN THIS PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE CREATIVE IN OUR APPROACHES TO ATTRACT TALENT.

>> IS THIS GOOD OR BAD THING?

>> I'M THINKING IT'S A MIXED BAG FULL OF CREATIVITY I THINK THE WAY WE APPROACH WORK IS DIFFERENT.

I THINK EMPLOYERS ARE ADAPTING EVOLVING AND BECOMING A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH REMOTE WORK AND PEOPLE WORKING PRODUCTIVELY FROM THEIR HOME AND CREATE A LOT MORE OPTIONS.

BUT IT'S A DRAMATIC EVOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN FORCED UPON US.

I SEE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES ESPECIALLY IN THE SECTORS THAT I'M IN.

HEALTH CARE HAS REINVENTED IN MANY WAYS.

>> WE CALL THIS LABOR RATE PARTICIPATION.

AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS PHENOMENON WE SEEN THIS INCREASED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE DROPPING OUT OF THE WORKFORCE THE FIRST QUESTION IS FOR YOU WHY AND WHEN WOULD YOU EXPECT THIS TO GO BACK TO NORMAL?

WHEN MIGHT YOU EXPECT THIS LABOR PARTICIPATION RATE TO GO BACK UP IF EVER?

IN THE LAST YEAR WE'VE HAD DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DROP OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE AS A RESULT OF THEIR CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES.

ELDER ELDERCARE AND CHILDCARE AND UNTIL WE ADDRESS BOTH OF THESE AS A LONG-TERM CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEED FOR THE ECONOMY WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THESE SORTS OF LABOR SHORTAGES PARTICULARLY FOR LOW WAGE WORKERS.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LABOR SHORTAGE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO MEET AS INDICATED.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IF WE AREN'T GOING TO TREAT CHILDCARE AND ELDER CARE AS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS IN NEED OF SUPPORT.

>> YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THIS COHORT WOULD BECOME LESS OF AN ISSUE BECAUSE SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION?

>> IT WILL FOR THOSE IN KINDERGARTEN AND OLDER BUT OR KIDS YOUNGER THAN THIS IT'S GOING TO BECOME MORE OF AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE CHILDCARE WORKFORCE IS ALSO DISAPPEARING.

WE CAN'T FORGET THIS WHATEVER IS HAPPENING IN THE BROADER LABOR MARKET IS ALSO HAPPENING IN THE CHILDCARE LABOR MARKET.

IT'S CREATING SOME SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE CLOSING.

HOW WOULD YOU AND AGAIN I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PUT YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAVE DONE.

AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT IT UNTIL WE START TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES HOW DO WE SYSTEMICALLY ADDRESS THESE ISSUES OF THE LABOR SHORTAGE CHILDCARE AND ELDER CARE?

>> THAT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SYSTEMIC CHANGE.

WE'VE ALL BEEN FORCED TO ADAPT AND EVOLVE AND BUSINESSES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS.

I WAS TALKING WITH OUR CFO YESTERDAY AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE VALUE GREATLY AND THEY NEED TO MOVE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME WE SAID IT'S OKAY YOU CAN BE IN ANOTHER CITY.

JUST CONTINUE TO HANDLE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

I THINK WE ARE GETTING MORE CREATIVE AND WE MADE THEM OUT OF THIS BETTER IN THE END.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT RETAIL PRICES COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ITEMS AT THE STORE.

DURABLE GOODS.

IT'S JUST DIFFICULT TO IGNORE THESE FAIRLY DRAMATIC PRICE INCREASES.

ARE ALL OF THESE THINGS PERMANENT?

DO WE HAVE A NEW HIGH WATER MARK >> I THINK WE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR A NEW NORMAL AT THIS POINT THAT WE HAD YET TO ACHIEVE.

THE REAL ESTATE BUBBLE IS A PHENOMENON AND THERE IS A LOT OF FACTORS PLAYING INTO THIS THING.

FOR COMPANIES LIKE US LAUNCHING PRODUCTS WITH THESE RAW MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE.

IT'S JUST A COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT AND I THINK THIS DELTA VARIANT HAS SLOWED ANY NORMALIZATION THAT WE HAD HOPED FOR.

WE ARE GOING TO FOOTBALL GAMES AGAIN AND WE ARE TRYING TO OPEN UP BUT WE STILL HAVE DIFFICULT NUMBERS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH I THINK WE ARE QUITE A BIT OFF FROM NORMAL BUT I DO THINK THINGS ARE GOING TO SETTLE DOWN ULTIMATELY BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A NEW NORMAL AND NOT WHAT USED TO WORK WITH.

>> YOU THINK THE COST OF LIVING WILL FOREVER BE AT THIS LEVEL?

I'M NOT AN ECONOMIST.

I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT.

I OF COURSE MUST THINK ABOUT THE LOW-WAGE PEOPLE.

THE LOW INCOME PEOPLE ACROSS THE CAROLINAS.

THEIR STRUGGLES ARE REAL.

I HOPE FOR STRONG ACTION AT ALL LEVELS.

CERTAINLY MATERIALS MATTER.

>> JUST QUICKLY WE HAD ABOUT ONE MINUTE LEFT AND SORRY TO INTERRUPT I DON'T WANT YOU TO LOSE MOMENTUM.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND THIS IS NOT JUST TRUE IN THE PALMETTO STATE BUT THE IDEA THAT THIS BATTLE ROYALE AROUND MASKS OR NO MASKS CONTINUES TO RAGE ON.

WE HAVE PROHIBITED SCHOOL BOARDS FROM MANDATING MASKS.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN REVERSED BY A HIGHER COURT BUT NOW IT'S BEEN REVERSED AGAIN WHERE IS THIS AND WHERE IS IT GOING TO END UP?

IT SEEMS THAT THE FEDERAL COURT HAS BLOCKED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION AT LEAST WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN ASKED.

THE PRINCIPLE THAT SHOULD BE OBSERVED HIS LOCAL CONTROL.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SCHOOL BOARDS MAKING THE DECISIONS ARE THE BEST OF THEIR STUDENTS.

THE FINAL WORD ON THIS OF COURSE IS MOLLY SPEARMAN THE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

OUR SPECIAL GUEST IS NOT A STRANGER TO THE CAROLINAS.

WELCOME AND YOU LOOK WELL DO YOU FEEL WELL?

>> AM I'M DOING VERY WELL THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> HONORED TO HAVE YOU.

IT SEEMS THE LAST FEW WEEKS IN ESPECIALLY AROUND HOSPITALS THAT THE IDEA OF BEING VACCINATED IS NOW A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

IS THAT HOW IT'S GOING TO BE?

IT CERTAINLY IS FOR US.

MOST OF THE LARGE HEALTH SYSTEMS IN NORTH CAROLINA THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT MAKING THIS A CONDITION FOR EMPLOYMENT ACROSS ALL OF THE CAROLINAS AND THE US.

THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA FOR HEALTH SYSTEMS.

WE'VE HAD VACCINATIONS FOR INFLUENZA AND HEPATITIS.

ANY INFECTIOUS DISEASES THAT WE REQUIRED VACCINATIONS FOR.

THIS MAKES SENSE THAT WITH A NEW DISEASE WE WOULD REQUIRE VACCINATION TO PROTECT EVERYBODY THAT WORKS IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

WHEN THE MARKET IS TIGHT IN THE ESPECIALLY AT THE LEVEL WHICH YOU HIRE A LOT OF THESE POSITIONS.

YOU WANT THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF WHO AND HOW MUCH YOU ARE GOING TO PAY.

THE IDEA THAT YOU MUST BE VACCINATED ON TOP OF THIS SOME PEOPLE WILL NATURALLY SAY NO.

I SPEAK AT THE NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION EVERY MONDAY.

FOR THE PAST SIX WEEKS WE HAVE HAD FULL NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION SESSIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FILL POSITIONS.

YET WE KNOW IN THE CAROLINAS THERE ARE NURSING SHORTAGES.

THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM.

INTERESTINGLY WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A NURSING SHORTAGE THIS WAS PREDICTED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC GETTING.

AND WHILE THIS PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED THE SHORTAGE THIS WAS COMING BECAUSE THE POPULATION OF NURSES WAS AGING.

WE HAD MORE PATIENTS COME IN TO HOSPITAL WHILE THE SAME TIME THE NURSING SCHOOLS WEREN'T GRADUATING ENOUGH NURSES TO FILL THE SLOTS.

WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT WORSE.

WE NEED TO BE VERY CREATIVE ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PARTNER WITH THE SCHOOLS OF NURSING AS WELL AS THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP US RAISE THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES I'M FEELING FOR YOU.

I SPENT THE BULK OF MY LIFE IN HEALTHCARE WORKING AT THIS HEALTH SYSTEM.

I WAS ARGUED CUSTOMS TO THE CHALLENGES ON THE SYSTEMS AT THE IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL.

A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN BRUTAL ON THE HEALTHCARE WORLD.

WHEN THE ICUS ARE FULL AND YOU AREN'T ABLE TO DELIVER THE ELECTIVE SURGERIES THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT AND NEED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE ARE DEALING WITH THIS AND THE SECOND WAVE OF DELTA.

I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR THE FAINT OF HEART IN HEALTHCARE I WILL SAY I HAVE BEEN SO INSPIRED BY THE MEN AND LADIES THAT WERE IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM.

AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS I HAVE SEEN SOME TRULY HEROIC ACTIONS.

I'VE THEN PRIVILEGED IN THIS HOSPITAL TO SEE WHAT OUR PHYSICIANS AND NURSES AND PHARMACISTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AS THEY HAVE STEPPED UP AND TRULY IN A TIME WHEN THE VISITATION POLICY HAS HAD TO BE ADJUSTED.

I'VE SEEN NOT ONLY HAVE A THEY BEEN THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT THEY NEED TO BE BUT THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN A MOTHER'S' SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

THEY HAVE HELD THE HANDS OF THESE PATIENTS.

THEY HAVE GIVEN THEM THE EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL SUPPORT I'VE SEEN THEM BRING IN DEVICES AND HOLD THEM UP SO THE PATIENT CAN USE THIS WITH THEIR FAMILIES THEY CAN ALSO HELP THEM RECOVER AND SADLY WHEN THIS DID NOT HAPPEN THEY HAVE BEEN THERE TO BE THE SUPPORT WHEN PEOPLE TRANSITION AND DIE.

THEY HAVE BEEN HEROIC WITH WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO.

I'VE SEEN PEOPLE LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES THESE PHYSICIANS AND NURSES AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE DOING THIS AT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS A TREMENDOUS COST THEMSELVES PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.

BUT WE REALLY TRIED TO DO IS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THEM.

WE HAD TRIED TO SUPPORT THIS FOR THEM.

WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR THE FRONT-LINE WORKERS.

WE'VE ASKED THE PUBLIC AND THIS IS WHY WE ARE ASKED PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED AND WEAR MASKS.

WE KNOW THIS MAKES A DIFFERENCE ON WHO GETS THE DISEASE AND WHO COMES TO THE HOSPITAL.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE PANDEMICS IN THE FUTURE WITH HABITAT LOSS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

THE US WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE TOP OF ANY LIST FOR PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS.

HOW PREPARED WERE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING TO BE SURE YOU ARE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT ONE?

>> WE HAVE BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK WITH OUR INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND SAFETY TEAM.

YET I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WERE PREPARED FOR THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT HIT US.

'S TEAM CAME TOGETHER LIKE MANY DID AND BEGAN TO DO OUTREACH AND ONE OF THESE INSPIRING THINGS IS HOW WE PARTNERED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO HELP OUT WITH THE IMMEDIATE SUPPLY CHAIN NEEDS.

HERE IN GREENSBORO WE HAVE HAD TEXTILE COMPANIES IN OUR BLOOD AND MANY OF THEM REPURPOSED SOME OF THEIR WORK TO HELP US GET PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

THE ANALYTICS TEAM WHEN WE WENT TO WORK PARTNERING WITH THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

DOES HELP WITH PREDICTIONS OF HOW LONG WE CAN GO BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF MASKS AND GALLONS.

WE WERE ABLE TO PUT WORDS INTO PLAY AND KEEP OUR TEAM MEMBERS SAFE.

WE OPENED A HOSPITAL WITHIN 30 DAYS.

WE HAD JUST CLOSED A HOSPITAL AND STARTED A LADIES HOSPITAL WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD IN EMPTY HOSPITAL AND WITHIN 30 DAYS WE WERE ABLE TO CONVERT THIS INTO A PANDEMIC HOSPITAL.

BY DOING THIS BUT BECAME QUITE PREPARED.

I WOULD SAVE OUR TEAM DID MIRACULOUS WORK TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM FOCUS HAS JUST BEEN THE PANDEMIC HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THIS TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THE URGENT CARE MODE?

THE SECOND PART OF THIS THAT'S RELATED IS WHAT IS BEING WHAT YOU NEED TO EXPAND ON OR THERE IS A HOSPITAL SYSTEM YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT COMBINING WITH FOR ANY STRATEGIC STANDARD DECISIONS THAT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS HAVE MADE HAVE BEEN TABLED NOW.

HOW AND WHEN DO YOU SEE YOURSELF GETTING BACK TO NORMAL BUSINESS.

>> I WOULD SAY IN DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC WE PUT MANY THINGS ON HOLD.

REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE PANDEMIC.

BARRY LEARNING ORGANIZATION.

WE'VE QUICKLY BEEN WORKING TO FIND OH WHICH LESSONS WE CAN LEARN.

AFTER THE FIRST WAVE LAST WINTER WE BEGAN TO ASK HOW WE CAN TAKE THIS OPERATIONALLY HOW WEAK PREPARE FOR PATIENTS AND MAKE THIS PART OF THE DAILY OPERATIONS RATHER THAN LIVING CONSTANTLY IN CRISIS MODE AND WE BEGAN TO DO THIS.

SO MANY OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP WE BEGAN TO PUT THIS INTO EVERYDAY ACTION.

WE BEGAN TO WORK THIS INTO OUR REGULAR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND OR PROJECTS.

WE ARE OPENING A NEW MEDICAL CENTER THAT'S GOING TO BE OPEN IN FEBRUARY IT'S A BIG CAPITAL PROJECT IN PLAY.

WE ARE EXECUTING ON SELECT PROJECTS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE GOING TO HAVE HIGH IMPACT FOR THE MARKET SHARE IN THE REVENUE.

NOT EVERYTHING BUT THE HIGH-IMPACT.

IF THE NEXT WAVE HITS AND WE HAVE TO DECIDE ABOUT MAKING SELECTIONS ON WHAT TO CONTINUE WE CAN BECOME VERY FOCUSED.

WE ASKED THEM TO FOCUS ON THE PANDEMIC AND THREE OTHER HIGH PRIORITY AREAS.

I THINK THE TRICK IS YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD BUT YOU MUST BE VERY FOCUSED.

NOT TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU MAY OTHERWISE NOT DO.

>> THE TREND IS STILL CHALLENGING.

WE DO A LOT OF TEST PROCESSING.

WOULD THEN AS MANY AS 30,000 TESTS PER DAY OFF 38 HOUR TURNAROUND.

THIS VARIANT HAS A.

>> APPROACHING TO HUNDRED THOUSAND TESTS PER MONTH.

98 PERCENT OF HIS POSITIVES ARE DELTA IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

I LOOK AT THAT LONG-TERM IMPACT HOW ARE YOU DOING WITH PATIENTS THAT NEED AND WANT ELECTIVE SURGERIES THAT ARE DELAYING THESE IN MANY CASES.

ALSO EMERGOOM EMERGENCY ROOM RESPONSE TIMES WHICH HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING WITH ALL OF THESE PANDEMIC PATIENTS MANY BEING UNVACCINATED.

>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE ARE NOT DOING ANY INPATIENT ELECTIVE SURGERIES.

THERE IS A HOLD ON A LOT OF THIS YOU ASKED A SECOND QUESTION AND I'M SORRY THAT I MISSED IT.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS FROM EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMES HOW THAT'S GOING.

I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN A BIG CHALLENGE.

SOMETHING WE'VE DONE HIS WORK WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT AND WE RUN THIS COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE REGION TO TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVES THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN GO PROTECTING WITH THIS EVALUATION.

THEY CAN GO BACK TO THE PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF PATIENT ALTERNATIVES AND MAKE THIS EASY FOR THEM TO GET VIRTUAL CARE IN OUR UNITIES.

WE HAVE A LINK ON OUR HOMEPAGE THAT THEY CAN GO STRAIGHT TO THE HOME PAGE AND GET LINK TO A VIRTUAL CARE APPOINTMENT.

PROVIDING A CHOICE FOR SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING TO GET THEM THERE.

WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS I GOT THIS JUST YESTERDAY.

WE BEEN ABLE TO SHORTEN THIS TIME BUT IT'S STILL TOO LONG.

WE'VE ALL OF KNOWLEDGE THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE.

YOU HAD MENTIONED EARLY ON TALKING ABOUT THE NURSING STAFF SPECIFICALLY.

THE IDEA OF MENTAL HEALTH.

AS YOU KNOW WORKING WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SECRETARY THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO HER.

IT'S NOT FAIR TO SAY THIS BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT THIS IN UNDER ONE MINUTE.

>> WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH OUR EMPLOYEE WELLNESS AND SPIRITUAL CARE DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE MAKING ROUNDS ON EVERY UNIT.

WE ARE DOING UNIT MEETINGS AND AGAIN WE HAVE A VIRTUAL SESSIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AGAIN USING EVERY PLATFORM THAT WE CAN TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR THESE TEAMS.

WE'VE FOUND SOME OF THEM ARE MORE COMFORTABLE IN A GROUP SETTING SO WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS ESPECIALLY FOR THE UNIT THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TAKING CARE OF THE PANDEMIC PATIENTS.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE SUBSCRIBING AS YOU WOULD EXPECT TO THE IDEA OF GETTING HELP MENTAL HEALTH?

>> IT'S A MIXED BAG SOME ARE WILLING TO REACH OUT AND GET THIS AND OTHERS DO IT IN A GROUP WITH FRIENDS AND SOME ARE JUST SET.

FOR THOSE ALL WE CAN DO IS MAKE THIS AVAILABLE AND SOMETIMES THEIR LEADERS CAN TALK TO THEM AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THIS.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST THOSE INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OUT ACROSS THE STATE AND THE REGION.

BEST OF LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE JOB.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME I REALLY ENJOYED THIS.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK I'M CHRIS WILLIAM A NIGHT.

BLUE CROSS SHIELD OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOURSELF.