Physician Musician Performs for People after Receiving Their Vaccine
Armed with his guitar, a physician has been entertaining people getting their shots at the Mary Washington Healthcare COVID-19 vaccine clinic.
Photo credit: Mary Washington Healthcare
For people in the recovery area of the COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg, Va., listening to Rick Lewis, M.D., play his guitar is an added bonus to getting vaccinated. Lewis, MWHC vice president and medical director, often brings his guitar to entertain people in the waiting room, encouraging everyone to sing along.
While music may make the experience more pleasant, the MWHC team views COVID-19 vaccination as mission-critical work. “Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the community we serve. … There’s probably nothing we can do better now to help us meet that mission than to get our community vaccinated and safe,” said Mike McDermott, M.D., president and CEO of the not-for-profit regional health system, in an “Ask the Mayor of Fredericksburg” video posted on YouTube. “Getting everybody vaccinated is our way back to [a] sense of normalcy,” he added.
MWHC, in partnership with the Rappahannock Area Health District, is the Fredericksburg region’s hub for COVID-19 vaccines. In mid-December, it was one of the first health systems in Virginia to administer the first of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine to its front-line workers. MWHC then ramped up its vaccination efforts, organizing multidisciplinary teams from the health system and a network of volunteers. By late February, it had administered its 50,000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The vaccine clinic represented the pinnacle of the organization coming together and really responding after having such a difficult year,” said Stephen Mandell, M.D., senior medical director, vice president, Mary Washington Hospital.
The health system is using its social media channels to share important information and updates on COVID-19 vaccines, including hosting virtual community town halls on Facebook Live to share the latest vaccine news and answer questions. It also frequently retweets photos and social posts shared by community members who got their shot at the MWHC vaccine clinic, to encourage others to get vaccinated.
The mayor of Fredericksburg, Mary Katherine Greenlaw, has compared the health system’s vaccine clinic to an efficient, well-run fast-food restaurant. And since people haven’t been out and about much during the pandemic, Greenlaw pointed out that visiting the MWHC vaccine clinic to get a COVID-19 shot means seeing friends and neighbors. “Everybody who comes [to get vaccinated] says they’ve been throwing the best party in town,” she said.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine may not be quite like going to a party — but at MWHC, there is still great music. Visit the health system’s Facebook page to listen.