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Let's recognize what health care workers do
To the editor:
The coming days bring two significant events that have special meaning to many of us in health care.
The first, National Nurses Week, was May 6 through May 12. As a registered nurse, it's a time that reminds me of why I chose this career path and the nurses who inspired me along the way. And it's a time when my coworkers and I are recognized for our efforts and contributions to patient care. The past two years have been some of the most challenging due to the pandemic, and now we get to celebrate the resiliency of the nurse.
I'm proud to be a nurse in my community because it provides an opportunity to give back and support people in my hometown. The highly ranked Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing is also a point of great pride for me (class of 2018) and our community. We're renovating a space in downtown Lewistown to house the School of Nursing with plans to open to students next summer.
The second event was National Hospital Week, May 8 through May 14. This year, Geisinger took it one step further and changed it to "National Healthcare Week" because health care happens everywhere for us -- in hospitals, medical centers, primary care clinics, ConvenientCare locations, LIFE Geisinger facilities, Life Flight helicopters -- and even in the home, through Geisinger at Home and telemedicine.
I've been in the Geisinger family for more than 10 years and feel we are a tight-knit group of providers -- from our hospital to our clinics and the many community outreach programs we offer to promote wellness and education. I feel privileged to be a part of our team, where everyone works together to provide excellent patient care and satisfaction. Together, we've been able to help Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital earn a Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals ranking for the third year in a row. And we've joined an elite group of hospitals in the U.S. that have earned the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's top 5-Star rating -- a reflection of our high standards of quality and focus on improving patient outcomes.
I'm proud to be a nurse and to work alongside my fellow health care team members. Let's recognize and celebrate the selflessness of all our health care workers as they work to keep our communities safe and healthy.
Christine Goldenbaum
Inpatient registered nurse
Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital