Volume 10, Issue 23                                                                                      October 25, 2002

  "All of  the human resources of the hospital are the reasons we are succeeding"

    _{In This Corner    by Jon D. Smiley, C.E.O.}   

   It has been a challenging year, and those of you who attend the monthly all staff meetings have heard first hand, that we are doing a good job.  That is a significant accomplishment that you need to stop and think about for a minute.  In times that are tough for many hospitals you are part of a team that has done a very good job this year.

As we enter into the final ten weeks of 2002 I want to thank every individual on our team for the success we have achieved thus far.  

Every time you present yourself with a smile to a patient or family member you are sending a message more powerful than any advertising.  Every time you put forth effort without complaining you are helping all of us succeed.  Every time you do what needs to be done without question of why someone else didn’t do it, you are winning.

Many of you see a great deal of human pain and suffering working in a healthcare setting.  You also see great happiness from positive outcomes. 

Working amongst these human emotions can take a toll on health care workers.  Burnout and stress are very common in this business.   While we face the challenges of maintaining fiscal solvency in tough economic times, nothing is more important than keeping the hospital an excellent place to work and to receive care.  Because if we do not it is also clear that fiscal solvency will be harder and harder to achieve.

 Red Ribbon Week Concludes on Halloween

 If you attended the all staff meetings October 9th you heard a presentation from the local organizers of Red Ribbon Week  Red Ribbon Week is designed to promote drug free activities among young people.  The Sunnyside Youth Coalition is organizing activities the entire week.  Hospital employees & volunteers are being asked to wear red ribbons on Wednesday October 30th as a sign of support for the events.

If you would like to wear a red ribbon on Wednesday October 30th they will be available around the hospital.  The Youth Coalition is also sponsoring Halloween night activities in Central Park for youngsters. 

United Way Campaign Wraps Up a Winner

Submitted by Yolle Widdows

The hospital pacesetter for the 2003 County United Way Campaign has concluded with a big increase in donations from one year ago.

The campaign led by Jill Nettleton and Charlene Maling raised over $7,500. from hospital staff and the hospital. The hospital board agreed to match donations pledged by employees. These totals are nearly $2000 higher than last year.

Thank you to everyone who took part in making a pledge toward 2003. The United Way really is a very good investment in the needs of the Lower Valley.

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