I have only 500 words to fully capture the depth of my appreciation for the brave and selfless individuals caring for the people of New Jersey throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This won’t be easy.
They have worked in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, rehabilitation facilities and long term care hospitals, home care, hospice and PACE settings. They have traveled to people’s homes, or connected with patients via computer screens. They have been there when we all needed them most.
Each May, the national observances of Nurses Week, Hospital Week and Skilled Nursing Care Week come together at about the same time. I believe it’s fitting that we should declare the entire month – no, make that all of 2020 – in honor of healthcare heroes everywhere.
As president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association, the very best part of my job is visiting healthcare sites to engage with the wonderful people who work in them. It takes a very special individual to make caring a career. It is hard work emotionally, intellectually and physically. The hours are long, the stress is high. But these professionals thrive in it because of a very simple human attribute: They care, deeply. They believe that helping others in their time of need is how they were meant to spend the precious time we are granted on this earth. I am honored to count them as colleagues.
These healthcare heroes include physicians and nurses on the frontlines who have seen an unprecedented surge of serious illness – probably the most ever in their careers. They have confronted it with compassion, confidence and the utmost competence.
There are many other healthcare heroes whose work hasn’t been front-and-center. Their efforts also are essential in helping New Jersey get through this crisis. They are the care techs who are nurses’ right hands in tending to patients’ needs; they are therapists in respiratory, occupational, physical and speech skills who support patients’ recoveries; they are pharmacists and lab workers whose expertise is key to diagnosing and treating patients; they are nurses aides in nursing homes and assisted living who support elders through their daily lives; they are counselors and social workers who know that good health includes mental health; they are food service teams providing nourishment; they are environmental services and housekeeping pros whose work is vital in infection prevention; they are home health and PACE teams who keep vulnerable people safe in their homes; and they are dedicated employees in security, transportation, administrative support and other areas whose efforts are absolutely essential in keeping our healthcare system operational. Please forgive me for any that I have overlooked.
They have been there for the people of New Jersey every single day of this crisis – caring not only for those with coronavirus, but also quietly and efficiently caring for the additional healthcare demands of our communities – performing life-saving surgeries, delivering babies, healing trauma patients and keeping the emergency room ready for all. This virus hasn’t shut down our healthcare facilities. And it certainly won’t shut down the compassion and commitment of these strong New Jersey heroes who are always here to care.
Cathy Bennett is president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association, a not-for-profit trade association for New Jersey’s healthcare community.
