National Hospital Week promotes message of healing

America's hospitals are positive, vital places that promote health and well being.  That's the message health care facilities across the country are voicing as they celebrate National Hospital Week 2008.

“We want people to understand hospitals are all about healing,” Kenny Boyd, CEO at Girard Medical Center.  “Our focus is very positive.  Doctors, nurses and staff have one mission and that's to help people get well.”

Keeping health care in a positive light is part of the tradition of National Hospital Week, a celebration of care that goes back to 1921.  That year a magazine editor in Chicago suggested an annual “open house” for health care where a skeptical public could see first hand the important work performed inside hospitals.  The idea spread across the country and helped change the perception about hospitals from places of illness to places of healing.  Today, National Hospital Week is the nation's largest health care celebration.

This year's event is planned for May 12-16, 2008. 

“We have fun educational activities all week for the staff, that focuses on patient and employee satisfaction, which we believe provides a better healing environment for our patients,” Desiree Humble, Service Excellence Director at Girard Medical Center.   “We have some events planned for our community members that will be a huge hit this year!” 

To get things started, Girard Medical Center has planned a very exciting event to show the community how much they appreciate their support and patronage of the hospital.  This event will be announced live in the morning on Monday, May 12th on 96.9 the KOW!  All week long the main entrance lobby will be filled with informational displays about each of the departments and the services they provide.  “We are really excited to include the youth members of our community this year!  We will have two days where we will provide hospital tours for the second graders from RV Haderlien and St. Paul Elementary schools” explained Desiree Humble.  Other community entities that will be included in this tour are the Fire Department, EMS and the Life Flight Helicopter.  On Friday, May 16th Girard Medical Center will open their doors to the public from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. for a free health fair in the classroom.  Health screenings provided are glucose and cholesterol, bone density, PSA, and body mass index.  Please note that you must be fasting for glucose and cholesterol screenings.  

For more information about National Hospital Week 2008 events planned at Girard Medical Center, contact:  Desiree Humble, Service Excellence Director at (620)724-5177 or Donnie Shull, Quality Services at (620)724-5178.