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Rep. Suzan DelBene visits EvergreenHealth to learn more about coronavirus response

After helping to get congressional approval for federal funding to fight the COVID-19, DelBene said she wanted to come and talk with those on the front lines.

KIRKLAND, Wash. — EvergreenHealth in Kirkland has been at the center of the fight against the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in King County since the outbreak was first reported a week ago.  

Some of the residents infected at the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland have been taken to EvergreenHealth. The hospital is equipped with special facilities to deal with these cases. 

On Saturday, hospital officials held a tour for Congresswoman Suzan DelBene and tried to provide more information on how the hospital is helping guide the community through this stressful time.

After helping to get congressional approval for federal funding to fight the virus, DelBene said she wanted to come and talk with those on the front lines.

“It was important to hear from our medical professionals about what they need, what challenges they face," she explained after the tour.

DelBene's visit comes one day after President Donald Trump called Governor Jay Inslee a “snake,” which raised new concerns about how well the state and federal government are working together to respond to the outbreak.

DelBene called his words “appalling” and said the president hasn’t seen what they’re doing “first-hand”.

“I was with the governor and the vice president at the gathering on Thursday I know his (Inslee’s) top priority is the health and safety of the people of Washington and the president could learn a lot from the governor's lead,” she said.  

RELATED: Washington to receive $11.5 million in federal funding to fight coronavirus

EvergreenHealth posted on its website this week calling the coronavirus "endemic," explaining that means it's now regularly found in our region amongst our population. But the change in language caused some concern and was later removed. 

Doctors said the term is designated by Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

"I really defer to our experts on all those definitions on what we call endemic, but what we know is with community spread, EvergreenHealth is ready to take care of that community that presents itself here," said Dr. Palazzo.

As the virus continues to spread, DelBene believes EvergreenHealth's response will help other providers develop protocols to treat patients and protect staff.

The hospital said it's focused on taking care of those patients and supporting the employees who continue to show up for work despite concerns about the virus.

“Humbling to watch these staff members come to work every day to take the best care of their patients and not shy away from it,” Dr. Palazzo explained.

RELATED: Coronavirus claims the lives of more than a dozen Life Care Center residents

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