COVID-19 has brought about challenges many of us never could have imagined as we watched the ball drop to ring in 2020. In five short months, so much has changed, and much of it doesn’t fall into the “dream come true” category.
Despite all the less than ideal, there are things we hope remain once this crisis period has passed.
It is said that heroes are those rushing in while everyone else is rushing out. The very mission of the healthcare worker — nurses, doctors, lab technicians, CNAs, and all down the line — is to be someone who rushes in. These are special people who, long before COVID-19, dedicated their professional life to helping others.
And while there has been much coverage of the current sacrifices those in healthcare are making as our country battles this pandemic, we would be remiss if we didn’t point out the fact that this isn’t new. The dedication, the rushing in; this is healthcare. And one day, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, it will no longer require them rushing in with less than optimal PPE, moving out of their homes to protect their family, or being the one holding a patient’s hand in their dying moments.
As an organization that has long had a front row seat helping those in healthcare provide the best outcomes for their patients, we can assure you that when we have all gone back to our “normal” routines, they will still be rushing in.
They will rush to treat our child’s asthma attack, rush to surgically repair our father’s broken hip in the middle of the night, and rush to pore over the latest therapies available to treat our mother’s breast cancer.
And for this, they have our highest level of appreciation.
So, as we make baby steps toward a post COVID-19 era, our hope is that the understanding and appreciation for what it means to be a healthcare worker remains.
To all the healthcare workers: thank you.
