Year in review: unprecedented challenges and unparalleled partnerships
2020 has tested our collective resolve and challenged our healthcare systems in ways never before seen. Each step of the way, we at Bayer have been happy to call you our partners and support you in new and innovative ways. We’re proud of our contributions in the face of ambiguity and the unknown. As we close out the year, we wanted to reflect on some of the ways Bayer has been supporting its partners and customers during 2020, and look forward to our ongoing partnerships in 2021.
Bayer’s support around the globe
Throughout the pandemic, our radiology teams around the world have mobilized quickly to help support customers as they deal with an influx of patients brought on by the pandemic. For example, in Italy, one of the hardest hit countries in the early months of the pandemic, our field service engineer Alessandro responded to an emergency call to help install a MEDRAD Stellant for a new CT scanner. The installation was critical, as the hospital ward was to be used exclusively for COVID-19 patients in the region.
Closer to home, when a hospital in Calgary, Alberta needed urgent repairs to vital diagnostic imaging equipment, Graeme Boyd, part of Bayer Canada’s radiology equipment service team, didn’t hesitate. What may have been a routine flight and repair for the Montreal-based field service representative just a few months ago was profoundly different thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. With patients in acute need and local options exhausted, Graeme jumped to the challenge. He carefully made the trip using all precautions and got this essential equipment up and running.
Bayer Canada’s COVID response
Beyond our radiology team, Bayer in Canada has been active across its three divisions, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, and Crop Science, working closely with our partners to find opportunities to give back and help those in need. This includes:
- Funding research programs to evaluate the safety and efficacy of different combination therapies for the treatment of COVID-19
- Adopting to a COVID-19 environment and implementing additional safety precautions across our Crop Science sites to ensure product supply is uninterrupted
- As of August, Bayer’s Consumer Health division provided over $500,000 in products to Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) to support humanitarian relief in developing nations around the world
What’s next?
As we look forward to 2021, you can be sure to expect that continued exceptional service and a commitment from Bayer to go over and beyond.
We know that the increased volume of scans added stress to both you and your patients. To support you, we released material that focuses on patient care and throughput. These items were the MR Patient brochure and the Gadovist and Contrast Agents video. With the increased requirements in cleaning and disinfecting, we’ve also released material to help ensure the safety of our HCPs including both a cleaning video for Stellant, and cleaning reference guides for all injectors. Please contact your local Bayer representative to obtain those items if you don’t have them already.
