With the need for "convalescent plasma" to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients ramping up as cases rise, Banner Research is providing donation coordinators in metro Phoenix, Tucson and Northern Colorado to help recovered COVID-19 patients get through the plasma donation process. The donation coordinators are equipped to assess qualifying criteria for potential donors, answer questions and explain how the donation process works.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that is has opened three new COVID-19 drive-thru collection sites this week and added lanes to its original sites, expanding capacity from 4,000 appointments per week to 13,500.

A press release from Banner health announcing that the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has awarded an unrestricted grant of $750,000 to the Banner Health Foundation. Banner leadership has chosen to allocate these funds to the Supporting Our Staff (SOS) Fund to help its health care workforce during this challenging time.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that with more children at home and outdoor temperatures rising, Banner Children’s is encouraging families to remember the ABCs of water safety by creating a fun coloring activity for kids and providing information about drowning prevention.

A press release from Banner Health announcing a new digital tool used by Banner Health physicians allows pregnant women to monitor their prenatal health at home and make fewer trips to the doctor’s office.

A press release from Banner Health announcing how they are honoring the sacrifices made by nurses and other frontline employees, with activities and advertisements during National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week.

In honor of National Hospital Week and Nurses Week, physicians and staff working on the frontlines at Banner Desert Medical Center and Banner Children’s at Cardon Children’s Medical Center were recently recognized with an illumination on both hospital buildings, acknowledging the exceptional work provided and sacrifices made by the medical teams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A press release from Banner Health announcing the new virtual waiting room across its brands.

Following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Brandie Anderson, RN, MPH, CIC, infection prevention director at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, shares health and safety tips to protect yourself and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A press release outlining the importance of mental health, and providing the immediate resources available for Pima and Maricopa County residents.

A press release announcing that Banner Health partnered with Premier Inc., a leading healthcare improvement company, to acquire a minority stake in Prestige Ameritech, the largest domestic manufacturer of face masks, including N95 respirators and surgical masks.

A press release describing the new measures in place to maintain a safe place for care at hospitals, clinics

A press release from Banner Health announcing that hospitalists and specialists at all 28 Banner Health hospitals now can conduct virtual patient visits on COVID-19 units. This greatly preserves personal protective equipment (PPE) and allows for greater efficiency and patient and staff safety in these busy patient care units.The next phase of this telehealth technology rollout is underway at Banner Health Emergency Rooms.

A press release from Banner Health recapping Dr. Marjorie Bessel's press conference on June 6, 2020.

A press release from Banner Health encouraging people to not delay well-child visits due to COVID 19

A press release from Banner Health explaing the University of Arizona – Banner Health All of Us Research Program (UA-Banner All of Us) will join national cohorts from the All of Us Research Program, part of the National Institutes of Health, in the effort to leverage its significant and diverse participant base to seek new insights into COVID-19 through antibody testing, a survey on the pandemic’s impacts and collection of electronic health record information.

As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Arizona, nurses from Banner’s North Medical Colorado Center in Greeley, Colorado, have joined other fellow frontline health care workers at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix to help treat hospitalized patients.

In the last 10 years, a team of doctors and nurses at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix has grown and expanded what is now one of the largest ECMO programs in Arizona and the southwest region of the nation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, is a life-saving therapy used to help patients with acute respiratory failure who have not responded to the usual lifesaving treatments like a breathing machine.

A press release from Banner Health providing an update on COVID 19 on June 25, 2020

A press release from Banner Health warning of the dangers of homemade hand sanitizer and liquor.

A press release from Banner Health about Cox Business' donation of PPE and

A press release from Banner Health encouraging people to get the flu shot to stay safer.

a press release from Banner Health encouraging cardiac screenings for student-athletes as new research has revealed potential heart damage as an after effect from the virus.

A press release describing Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale and Banner Estrella Medical Center in West Phoenix each recently discharged their 1,000th COVID-19 patient this past week.

A press release stating that Banner Health changed its visitor restrictions at hospitals in the metropolitan Phoenix, Tucson and Casa Grande areas.

A press release from Banner Health opposing the lifting of mask mandates.

A press release from October 27. 2020 giving an update on COVID-19 in Arizona.

A press release from Banner Health providing safety tips for those who wish to travel during the holidays.

A press release describing how " Banner Health further modified its visitor restrictions to allow patients at Banner ambulatory settings, such as clinics, surgery centers and urgent cares, to have a companion (family member or friend) accompany them on the visit. Patient companions are also now permitted at Banner hospitals for patients in the emergency room or receiving outpatient treatment."

A press release from Banner health on November 10, 2020, giving an update on Covid-19 in Arizona.

A press release describing Banner Health enhances visitor restrictions in Northern Colorado

A press release in which Banner Health recommends alternatives to in-person gatherings on Thanksgiving. Banner Health advises that individuals evaluate the risk level of their Thanksgiving plans and consider safer alternatives for those activities that present a higher risk of contracting or spreading the virus.

A press release detailing Banner Health reinstating no visitor policy at all Arizona locations, going into effect at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22

Banner Health is pleased to join local health organizations Mayo Clinic and Dignity Health (CommonSpirit Health), as well as other top U.S. health systems, in a "Mask Up" promotion campaign designed to encourage everyone to wear a mask as protection for themselves and others against COVID-19.

Banner Health hosted a COVID-19 press conference with speaker Dr. Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer at Banner Health. Dr. Bessel addressed topics such as capacity, staffing, current treatments available, vaccine distribution and mitigation efforts.

Banner Health enhances visitor restrictions in Northern Colorado. Restrictions now to include locations in addition to hospitals

The nature of the lockdown experience varies according to many factors, including geographical location. In talking with friends and families in other parts of the country and the world, I’ve learned that going through lockdown in southern Arizona is different than going through lockdown in other places due to our unique climate. When we were first sent home in March 2020, I was thrilled because the spring in the desert is beautiful; during previous years, I was stuck in an office building. Now I could work outside! How great! This feeling of elation gradually changed to one of dread as the long Arizona summer came into being. In southern Arizona, we’re used to being in lockdown to a degree. When the temperatures are 100+ degrees outside during our long summer, many of us hibernate inside our houses. However, we do leave the house in the morning to go to work and are able to work in an air-conditioned building during the day, which mitigate some of the difficulties. Not so during the lockdown. I was basically chained to my house, a situation that was extremely difficult and detrimental to my mental health. I wasn’t going to the office, I couldn’t walk around the block, I couldn’t have an outside party with friends or neighbors. Cabin fever definitely set in. In addition, my internet access was disrupted by the heat and/or the torrential monsoon rains, which left me even more isolated. The spring, fall, and winter lockdown in southern Arizona were fabulous in that I was able to enjoy the outdoors more than when I was in the office; the summer lockdown (almost half the year) was a harsh lockdown.

This CNN article discusses a recent letter sent out by Gov. Doug Ducey's education adviser, that said requiring unvaccinated students to quarantine after a COVID exposure is against state law because Arizona does not require students to be vaccinated or wear face masks. I am from NYS and this is drastically different than what Gov. Andrew Cuomo is requiring and/or recommending for students in public schools and state universities. It is bizarre how different states and governors are handling the COVID and vaccination situation.

This article discusses why Arizona's Covid rate was the highest in the country as of February 1, 2021. Contributing factors included a lack of mask-wearing and cross-border traffic.

Banner Health team members collect samples from patients to test for COVID-19. More information available at http://bannerhealth.mediaroom.com/COVID-19info.

Members of Banner Health's Innovation Team convert sterilization wrap into surgical masks in an effort to conserve supplies. More: http://bannerhealth.mediaroom.com/masks

Ten nurses from Banner Health’s Arizona hospitals are heading to northern Colorado to assist their colleagues at the Banner-owned hospital in Greeley, North Colorado Medical Center.

To protect our patients and health care workers, Banner Health is erecting triage tents at several of its medical centers to process patients upon arrival.

The 3D printing community is coming together to ensure Banner Health employees have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need. Manufacturing is taking place across the Banner Health service area.

Members of Chinese American COVID-19 Relief AZ deliver thousands of masks to Banner Health medical centers, including this delivery to Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.

Chief Clinical Officer Marjorie Bessel, MD, outlines ways Banner Health is ensuring our facilities are a safe place for care for patients. Changes include using thermal cameras to detect fevers and continuous masking.

Entrevista con Melody Nungaray-Ortiz en Español. Nungaray-Ortiz es una miembra del equipo de ECMO en Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.

Interviews with members of the ECMO team at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix describe efforts underway to treat patients with severe symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians and others throughout Banner Health work around the clock to care for patients with COVID-19. B-Roll available for download, editing and broadcast.

Members of the ECMO team at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix show how they use special equipment to stabilize and treat patients who are unable to maintain blood oxygen levels.