May 10-16, 2020, is National Hospital Week. I have celebrated a number of these events during the course of my career. None, however, can compare to this one.

The staff of Blessing Health System has demonstrated a level of teamwork over the past 60-plus days that I have never before seen any place I have worked.

During our COVID-19 response, many Blessing caregivers have spent their precious off-time away from their families – living in a camper for example – so that they could continue to work and meet the communities’ COVID-related health care needs and protect their own families through self-quarantine.

When elective surgeries and invasive procedures were postponed, some staff saw their daily duties disappear. So, they willingly trained for jobs they had never done before, including COVID-19 symptom screeners at entrances to our buildings, and helpers to the housekeeping and Food & Nutrition departments because those are the tasks that needed to be done to meet community needs.

Members of our financial teams worked to learn about, understand and apply for federal and state programs that helped the health system fund its COVID-19 response in the face of losses sustained by the postponement of elective surgeries and invasive procedures.

Through this teamwork, and the commitment of members of the Board of Trustees to the well-being of staff and their loved ones, Blessing Health System has been able to weather this situation, so far, without having to furlough any staff.

As we take some time to celebrate National Hospital Week, we will not take our focus off the COVID-19 situation in our region.  It remains a threat.  However, we feel we can do that and safely bring other healthcare services back to our patients – including elective surgeries and invasive procedures. Our staff is ready to bring back those services because of their commitment to the health system mission, to improve the health of our communities, and their passion for connecting with their patients.

On behalf of the each member of the Blessing Board of Trustees, I wish the healthcare heroes of the Blessing Health System a Happy National Hospital Week. I know you do this work for the purpose it brings to your life, not for praise.  But you also deserve a little celebration.

Maureen Kahn, RN, MHA, MSN
President/Chief Executive Officer
Blessing Health System/Blessing Hospital