Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season and the end of another year. I always look forward to this opportunity to pause and reflect.
Those of us who work in health care are very lucky. Our work makes a material impact on people’s lives every single day. We get to see miracles. As health care leaders, we get to support some of the most brilliant, compassionate, caring and inspiring people.
I am incredibly grateful for these men and women who dedicate their lives to caring for patients and their families. The work of nurses, doctors, technicians, pharmacists, dietary, and custodial staff go on, regardless of the holiday.
Across the state, hospitals and health care systems are doing a little extra this Thanksgiving week to acknowledge these tireless everyday heroes. I’d like to share with you a sampling of a few of these traditions.
Best wishes for a healthy and safe holiday,
Scott Bond
WSHA President and CEO
ScottB@wsha.org
WSHA Members Thanksgiving Traditions
MultiCare Health System hosts Thanksgiving lunch for their entire organization. This year’s event took place on Monday with President and CEO Bill Robertson and others from the executive leadership team helping to serve the meals.
Hospital leadership at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview dished up meals to the hospital’s caregivers, providers and volunteers on all shifts. Nearly 1,400 Thanksgiving dinners were served at this year’s annual feast.
During the month of November, The CHI Franciscan Mission and Spiritual Care Department provided activities of “Thanksgiving and blessing” to honor employees, including the blessing of hands. Managers are involved in drying the hands of their employees while thanking them for their part in caring for patients and their families.
CHI Franciscan’s dietary department is also offering Thanksgiving family meals to go to ease the burden on staff who want to have a meal at home, but may not have the time to cook. They will also be offering a traditional Turkey meal to the patients on Thanksgiving Day.
At Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Madigan Grille Dining Hall at proudly prepares an elaborate holiday menu and creates decorations such as ice carvings and culinary displays as the dining hall celebrates our nation’s traditions of this day by serving its patients, staff and guests with a traditional Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Pictured here: Madigan senior leadership pitch in to help the dining hall team serve patients, staff and visitors during the Madigan Grille Dining Hall Thanksgiving meal last year. (Photo courtesy Madigan Public Affairs)
From everyone here at WSHA, have a wonderful and safe holiday!
