Caring for, and appreciating, hospital’s many caregivers
Every day at Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, there are countless examples of caregivers who are making a difference in the lives of patients. From physicians to technicians and so many others, it is the emphasis these caregivers place not only on keeping their clinical and technical skills sharp, but on making a human connection with patients that makes all the difference.
“I am so grateful for the sacrifices these caregivers make for our community,” said Mitch Cloward, Hospital Administrator for St. George Regional Hospital. “It’s one of the reasons I am so glad we have the chance to recognize them during Caregiver Appreciation Week.”
The term “caregiver” is used to describe anyone who is involved, either directly or indirectly, in caring for patients.
“We have more than 3,000 caregivers at the hospital,” Cloward said. “As leaders, we try to focus on serving our caregivers’ needs so they can, in turn, care for the patients.”
One of the ways hospital administrators try to meet the caregivers’ needs is by sharing feedback from patients and their families, to let the caregivers know just how much their time and effort is valued.
“We love hearing from patients, and we make sure we’re communicating the positive feedback to those who created it,” Cloward said.
In addition to this regular feedback, Cloward said he is excited to mingle with the team of caregivers during a variety of activities this week, including one of his favorites, lunch on the patio outside the hospital.
“It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and interact with one another,” he said.
Cloward hopes that by showing appreciation to the caregivers, patients can continue receiving the highest quality treatment at St. George Hospital.
“Patients often come to us on the worst day of their lives,” Cloward said. “It is through the technical and clinical skills that we provide for their healthcare needs, but it’s also important to recognize that every patient we care for is an individual with family and friends and a meaningful life. Connecting with patients from all of those perspectives is critical for their health and I can’t think of anything greater in this life than the gift of health.”
This Live Wellcolumn represents collaboration between healthcare professionals from the medical staffs of our not-for-profit Intermountain Health hospitals and The Spectrum & Daily News.NOTICE: This e-mail is for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain confidential and privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are prohibited from reviewing, using, disclosing or distributing this e-mail or its contents. If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of this e-mail and its contents.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Live Well: Caring for, and appreciating, hospital’s many caregivers
