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Fort HealthCare Celebrates National Hospital Week and Nursing Staff

Community Health
Monday, May 8, 2017

Hospitals across the country are celebrating many observances this week, as National Hospital Week, National Nurses Week, and National School Nurses Day are all observed around the same time of year. Fort HealthCare is celebrating as well. Health awareness weeks and observances are one small way that the health care community can bring focus to important topics and share it with the community. Quality and safety in care, and the dedication that hospital and clinic nurses and staff have to their profession is important to acknowledge.

National Hospital Week 2017National Hospital Week (NHW) celebrates hospitals and the men and women who support the health and wellbeing of their communities through dedication and compassionate care from the heart. This year’s NHW runs from May 7-13. We at Fort HealthCare are invested in caring from the heart every day of every year. Join us in thanking the many individuals who give their all to our family, friends, and neighbors. From providing medical care in our facilities, to running vital programs in education and outreach, we are committed to supporting the health and well-being of our communities.

NHW was developed by the American Hospital Association (AHA) and works with its members, state, regional, and metropolitan hospital associations and other organizations to shape and influence federal legislation and regulation to improve the ability of its members to deliver quality health care. AHA affiliates are uniquely positioned to respond to a broad array of local and national issues by providing hospitals with assistance in buying decisions, ideas and information, education, and consulting services. AHA actively participates in partnerships and initiatives addressing crucial areas of concern to the American health care system. For more information, visit http://www.aha.org.

During this time, the American Nurses Association has designated 2017 as the “Year of the Healthy Nurse” during National Nurses Week, May 6-12. The theme encourages celebration and recognition of nurses who lead the charge for health and wellness. Annually, National Nurses Week begins on May 6, marked as RN Recognition Day, and ends on May 12, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of nursing as a modern profession. The annual celebration of National Nurses Week focuses attention on the diverse ways America’s 3.1 million registered nurses work to save lives and to improve the health of millions.

The Nursing Services team at Fort HealthCare thrives with an ongoing passion and dedication felt throughout the entire organization, first acknowledging our devoted nurses, physicians, clinicians, and employees with sincere appreciation to the entire teamwork approach to providing the highest quality care.

Michael Wallace, president and CEO of Fort HealthCare, acknowledges the critical role nurses have in ensuring the health of the community, “As more individuals require medical care with fewer resources available, the advancement of the Nursing profession becomes increasingly important. Nurses are a fundamental link for ensuring patient safety and coordinating care as patients navigate through a complex system.”

Another important aspect of building a health community is through school nurses. The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) established the Wednesday of National Nurses Week as National School Nurse Day, a day to honor all school nurses who care for the children in our schools every day. This year the day falls on May 10. School nurses assist with improving the health and learning of more than 50 million children in our nation’s schools.

Christopher Barron, Fort HealthCare Executive Director of Population Health, recognizes the Fort HealthCare School Nurse team, “Fort HealthCare School Nursing provides school nursing services to nine area school districts – Cambridge, Deerfield, Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Lake Mills, Marshall, Palmyra-Eagle, Waterloo and Whitewater.”

He continues, “School nursing is a valuable touchpoint with our communities to further our Mission to improve the health and well-being of our community and our Vision to be the healthiest community in Wisconsin. The NASN notes that the school nurse serves in a pivotal role that bridges health care and education. Our school nurses manage a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions helping students to be healthy and ready to learn. In addition, our school nurses provide wellness education to students and faculty. We are so grateful to have such a caring group of nurses representing Fort HealthCare in many of our school districts.”

Fort HealthCare is committed to improving the health and well-being of our communities, with a vision to be the healthiest community in Wisconsin. As the leading healthcare provider in the region, it is our goal to reach as many members of the community as possible with health and wellness messages, providing tools and resources to help individuals improve their health and quality of life, while collaborating with several partners to positively improve the population’s health overall on a long term basis. For more information, visit FortHealthCare.com.