National Hospital Week is a celebration that honors the contributions of hospitals and healthcare employees throughout the United States. This year's theme, #WeAreHealthcare, emphasizes the critical role hospitals and healthcare professionals play in our communities. It reminds us that hospitals and healthcare personnel are vital to our society. Their labor affects all of us, as they are our friends, neighbors, and family members.
The past few years have been particularly difficult for hospitals and healthcare employees who have worked tirelessly to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. They placed their own health and safety at risk in order to assist those infected with the virus, and their efforts have saved countless lives.
We recognize and commemorate the contributions of hospitals and healthcare professionals during National Hospital Week and acknowledge the sacrifices they have made and continue to make to deliver quality care to patients in their communities.
The concept of a hospital in its modern form can be traced back to 331 A.D. when the Roman emperor Constantine I abolished all pagan hospitals after converting to Christianity. Before this time, patients were isolated from the community. However, the Christian tradition emphasized the importance of a patient's relationship with the community, making it the community's responsibility to care for the sick.
In 370 A.D., St. Basil the Great established a religious institution in Cappadocia that included a hospital. This hospital served as an isolation unit for individuals suffering from leprosy, and St. Basil also constructed buildings to house the poor, elderly, and sick. This example led to the creation of similar hospitals in the eastern part of the Roman Empire.
The trend of establishing military hospitals was led by the Knights Hospitallers of the Order of St. John in 1099. These hospitals were located along travel routes to make them easily accessible for injured soldiers. The Knights Hospitallers specialized in treating eye diseases, making it likely the first hospital of its kind. Today, this order has survived as the St. John Ambulance.
In the present-day United States, the first hospital was established in 1663 as a hospital for soldiers on Manhattan Island. The early hospitals in the U.S. were mostly almshouses, with the first established in 1622 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia was the first incorporated hospital in the U.S. and successfully acquired a charter from the crown in 1751.
As we celebrate National Hospital Week, we encourage everyone to demonstrate appreciation for hospitals and healthcare workers. Whether it's a simple thank you, a considerate gesture, or a donation to a healthcare organization, let's show our appreciation for those who tirelessly work to ensure our health and safety. Receiving a handwritten note of appreciation can add that little personal touch. You can write a note to a specific healthcare provider or send a card to an entire department at the hospital.
Make sure the people around you are aware of this week and use this opportunity to appreciate the hospitals near them. You can upload posts on social media with the hashtag #NationalHospitalWeek and #WeAreHealthcare for maximum reach.
Last but not least, small community hospitals are often short on staff and could use your assistance. Go make some inquiries at the community hospital that is closest to you to see if there are any ways that you may be of assistance.
National Hospital Week is a time to recognize and celebrate the essential role that hospitals and healthcare workers play in our communities. Let's come together to show our appreciation for their contributions and support their efforts to provide quality healthcare to all.
We understand that hospitals and healthcare workers are under immense pressure, and the healthcare industry is always evolving. We want you to know that we are here to support you, and we are continually working to improve our products to make your job easier.
Our wireless vital sign monitoring products benefit not only hospitals but, most especially its patients. The ViSi Mobile has been designed specifically to assist healthcare workers in their daily routines. With our technology, clinicians can remotely monitor patients' vital signs, enabling them to provide more personalized care and detect any abnormalities early on. With our technology, deterioration in a patient's condition can be detected early on, which can lead to better health outcomes and ultimately save lives.
As we celebrate National Hospital Week, we want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all our selfless healthcare workers. Your hard work and dedication are truly inspiring, and you are the backbone of the healthcare industry.