I Miss Seeing Our Volunteers

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) and Volunteer Appreciation Day (April 20), I want to thank our volunteers who have selflessly donated their time and talent to our healthcare system.

Our volunteers have not been onsite because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and we are getting by without them only because we are serving fewer patients in the hospital. On a typical day they are directing patients to where they need to go, serving people with a smile in the gift shop, and helping throughout the campus and at Gilchrist.

Each of our volunteers has their own special talents that they use freely to help us deliver health, healing and hope to their community. I want them all to know how much we value their efforts and how much we miss them. I look forward to seeing them again, hopefully soon.

This week is also Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 18-25) and for over a month now, our medical laboratory professionals and pathologists have focused on preparing samples, running tests, and helping identify COVID-19 cases. Our laboratory is full of unsung heroes. Their work is critical to our mission, but often forgotten. We are so fortunate to have the most highly reliable laboratory that I have ever seen, and I want to thank its leaders, Robert Palermo, MD, and Janis Smith. We are blessed with outstanding pathologists, technologists, technicians, phlebotomists, managers, administrative personnel, and others on the team. I want to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation for the work they do behind the scenes to drive us towards our vision.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. GBMC’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) and Domestic Violence (DV) Program does so much for our community, especially during the current pandemic.

Sexual assault and domestic violence patients not only get quality medical-forensic treatment but also receive much needed crisis intervention and safety planning. Under the leadership of, Laura Clary, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, our SAFE & DV program is expanding in new directions as additional needs are identified. The pandemic has increased the risk of abuse as the crisis has created more stress and less opportunity for the victims to distance themselves from their abusers.
We want the community to know that our SAFE & DV Program is always available – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year – and our doors are open to those in need even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To learn more on how our program continues to serve survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, even during these times, please check out this video here that our marketing team put together.