Our Hospital

    Blog

    Mar 12
    Marking a Grim Anniversary with Determination and Admiration

    Our hospital and community have spent the past year grappling with the worst public health crisis in recent history. It has been heartbreaking, exhausting, and often frightening. Yet every day, as president and CEO of Saratoga Hospital, I've been surrounded and strengthened by a team whose commitment and determination never waver. I know how much that lifts my spirits during difficult times. I wanted to find a way to do the same for you as we mark the one-year anniversary of a pandemic that's far from over.

    A recent letter from the Board of Trustees to Saratoga Hospital employees provided the perfect opportunity. The board's message gives you an inside look at the amazing contributions of every department of the hospital. Equally important, the letter reminds us of the caliber of individuals who serve on our board and exemplify what makes our community so extraordinary.

    Dear Employees of Saratoga Hospital:

    For months, the board has been aware of your spectacular individual and group efforts during this unprecedented pandemic. However, an item on our January agenda really overwhelmed our hearts and senses. "How COVID-19 Has Impacted the Hospital" was presented by each member of the senior team. They spoke about their areas of responsibility and how the staff in those areas have consistently stepped up to this challenge.

    We heard about the housekeeping staff who cleaned room after room to the highest standards issued by the CDC to protect patients. We heard about nutrition staff who worked hard to prepare and deliver food to all of our patients. We heard how the engineering staff set up the testing tents with electricity and heat, and created lanes for thousands of community members to come through to get tested. 

    We also heard how staff from outpatient areas finished clinic work and then came to the hospital to sit with patients, test the COVID tent patients, or direct traffic at the Urgent Care sites. And we heard about multidisciplinary teams that worked together to prone COVID-positive inpatients so they could breathe more easily. Employee Health managed staff exposures, quarantines, and vaccination clinics with efficiency and safety for all in mind. Communications were sent out regularly, and the board members appreciated receiving those as well. 

    Clearly, we have left out other valiant works in this brief note. But one is so important that it will not be forgotten: how the doctors, nurses, technicians, therapists, housekeeping, nutrition, and all other staff treated patientssome of whom succumbed to COVID-19and their families with kindness, respect, compassion, and utmost professionalism. The high mortality rate was hard for everyone at the hospital and in the community. We lost so many loved ones, but saved so many more with your extraordinary work.

    Please accept our thanks. We are so proud to have you in our hospital. We are so proud to work with the administration to make good decisions that affect our ability to care for the people who live in this region, and to care for each other.

    With our respect for all the good work you have done and continue to do, we remain sincerely, the Board of Trustees of Saratoga Hospital.

    Michael J. Toohey, Chair
    On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Saratoga Hospital