Update from BFUSA: Virtual Assessments

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled all organizations and businesses to make changes, some small, some very large. At BFUSA, we have been forced to make significant changes to our core activity, hospital assessments, by moving the entire process to a virtual format. This has not been an easy task and I am extremely grateful to our entire staff for their persistence and dedication, and especially BFUSA’s former CEO, Trish MacEnroe, for successfully shepherding us through this challenging time.

We have designed the virtual assessment to occur in two parts. We successfully moved Part 1 of the assessment (which includes the administrative/leadership interview, the purchasing agent interview, health care provider interviews, nursing staff interviews, and material reviews) to a virtual format beginning in September 2020 and have conducted 61 Part 1 assessments since then.

Moving Part 2 of the assessment to a virtual format has been a bit more challenging, due to the technological challenges involved in interviewing both in-patient and discharged mothers. However, I am pleased to report that we are now ready to begin Part 2 virtual assessments. We are currently scheduling the facilities that have already completed Part 1 of the assessment for Part 2 assessments beginning on May 1.

I am also pleased to report that we expect to complete nearly 200 total assessments during 2021.

We thank you for your support and patience as we have made these critical and challenging adjustments. As always, we express our heartfelt appreciation to the thousands of dedicated healthcare workers who have provided exceptional care to mothers, babies, and families during these difficult times.

Wishing you all the best,

Eileen FitzPatrick
Chief Executive Officer, BFUSA