May 9, 2021 How to celebrate Hospital Week in 2021More

May 9, 2021

National Hospital Week is an annual opportunity to thank and celebrate healthcare workers. For many, the last year has highlighted the critical importance of our healthcare workers. At Adventist Health, our employees live out this year's National Hospital Week theme every day: Inspiring hope through healing. During National Hospital Week, May 9-15, consider how you can show your support for our healthcare heroes.

How did Hospital Week start?

This year, Hospital Week takes place at a time when our country and world is beginning to emerge from a pandemic. It may be interesting to know that Hospital Week itself has its roots in a pandemic! The first National Hospital Day was established in 1921 as a way to encourage community members to support hospitals after the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918.

In 1953, National Hospital Day was turned into National Hospital Week. The timing of Hospital Week coincides with Florence Nightingale's birthday. Florence Nightingale, often recognized as the mother of modern nursing, opened the first secular nursing school in the world in 1860. In 1990, we celebrated the first National Nurses Week, May 6-12, to overlap with Hospital Week.

Thanking your healthcare heroes

During National Nurses Week and Hospital Week, find creative ways to thank the healthcare workers in your life. If you have had a nurse, doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or any other healthcare provider who has made a difference in your life, take the time to let them know. You may also:

• Write thank you cards. Receiving an old-fashioned handwritten note can be a pleasant surprise for anyone. You may write a note to a specific healthcare provider you appreciate. Or you could send a giant-sized card to a specific department or unit at your local hospital.
• Get creative with banners and chalk art. Express your gratitude through art. You may make chalk art in your neighborhood or decorate a thank-you poster. Some local businesses may allow you to set up posters or create chalk art in their area.
• Involve your kids. Use Hospital Week as an opportunity to help your kids express gratitude. They may draw pictures or sign thank-you notes. If your child has a specific provider to thank, you may be able to hand-deliver a card.
• Volunteer. Research your local hospital's volunteer opportunities. You may greet patients, help with special events or offer a donation. Many healthcare organizations continually need volunteers.
• Shout out on social media. Extend your gratitude beyond your community. Use your social media platform to send a shout-out to all healthcare workers. You might post a note of thanks, share a story or even make a short video. Use the hashtags #hospitalweek and #healthcareheroes to make your thank-you more visible.

Keep your community safe

In 2021, one of the best ways we can show our support for healthcare workers is by keeping our communities safe. Get vaccinated for COVID-19 when it's available to you. Continue wearing a mask and social distancing, especially if you have not gotten the vaccine yet. Helping our communities stay healthy is one of the most impactful ways we can thank our healthcare heroes.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.