The past two years have been bittersweet for many healthcare workers. As they reflect on how far they’ve come since the first COVID-19 patient was admitted to Parkland Memorial Hospital and hospitalizations on the decline, they can’t help but remember the lives lost throughout the pandemic.
Still, staff at Parkland are resilient. Hundreds of healthcare professionals from multiple disciplines volunteered to don personal protective equipment and at great risk to themselves stepped inside the Tactical Care Unit and ultimately other units throughout the hospital to care for critically ill COVID-19 patients. Their skill, dedication and grit inspired us daily, said Fred Cerise, MD, Parkland’s President & CEO.
And now that pandemic numbers have waned in the past few months, the staff at Parkland will take time during the second week of May to celebrate 2022 National Hospital Week, the nation’s largest healthcare event, by focusing on the care and compassion that plays a vital role in serving the community. This year’s theme, “We are Healthcare,” reflects the dedication to their profession that Parkland employees display in serving Dallas County residents.
Every day, thousands of people seek treatment from Parkland providers in the hospital, specialty clinics and neighborhood health centers located throughout Dallas County. Parkland staff stand ready 24/7, 365 to care for critically injured in the Rees-Jones Trauma Center or the first verified burn center in North Texas, those needing care in the state-of-the-art emergency department or to warmly welcome a newborn into this world. In fiscal 2021, Parkland recorded more than 210,000 visits to its emergency room and urgent care center and more than 1.1 million visits to the neighborhood and specialty outpatient clinics. In addition, 11,286 babies were delivered.
“Parkland’s staff does this important work because they care deeply about the health and well-being of every patient we serve. It isn’t easy. It requires skill and patience and long hours. But our employees believe in Parkland’s mission and values. Caring truly is their calling,” Dr. Cerise added.
The week coincides with the May 12, 1820, birth of Florence Nightingale, long revered for laying the foundation for modern nursing. Her writings sparked worldwide healthcare reform, and in 1860 she established St. Thomas’s Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in London.
National Hospital Week dates back to 1921 when it was launched in Chicago to promote trust and goodwill among members of the public toward their local hospitals. Eventually, the celebration spread to facilities across the country.
For more information on the services provided at Parkland, please visit our website at www.parklandhealth.org.
