3 minute read
COVID-19 Response
Looking back on the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
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—Alan Iftiniuk President & CEO
The onset of the global coronavirus pandemic in 2020 impacted us all in ways large and small.
Our physicians, nurses, caregivers and staff have responded to the crisis in true French Hospital fashion—with commitment, compassion and dedication to caring for our community regardless of what the pandemic brings.
In turn, our community rallied behind our frontline caregivers with overwhelming support, expressing gratitude through notes of encouragement, meals, flowers and much more. The hospital also received many donations of personal protective equipment during the initial months of the pandemic as well as contributions to the Foundation’s Emergency Support Fund, which provided financial support for the hospital’s response to COVID-19. Since March 2020, more than $865,000 in donations has been received to support our COVID-19 response.
Today, more than a year after the start of the pandemic, our caregivers and hospital staff continue to respond to pandemic surges and changes with the same level of dedication and caring. We express our deepest admiration of our caregivers and our humble gratitude for our community’s support.
Virtual “House Calls”: Providing updates during the pandemic
Shortly after the start of the pandemic, the Foundation created “House Calls,” a series of virtual Zoom conversations providing valuable information to supporters and community members during this uniquely challenging time. House Calls feature updates from French Hospital leadership and medical experts on the hospital’s response to COVID-19. To date, twelve House Calls have been held with more than 250 virtual attendees. The Foundation also bolstered outreach to our friends and supporters to help keep our community safe and informed.
Grateful COVID-19 patient gives back
In January 2021, local resident Ryan Harris came to French Hospital’s Emergency Department, suffering severe complications from COVID-19. Ryan attributes the saving of his life to the quick, expert actions of his physicians and nurses. What also impressed Ryan and his wife, Leanne, was the compassion they experienced.
Leanne and Ryan Harris
“We are so thankful for the care that I received at French Hospital, but also for how much the staff genuinely cared about me and my family,” says Ryan.
The Harris family’s gratitude inspired them to find a way to give back to the heroic caregivers at French Hospital. Ryan and Leanne, pictured above, worked with the Foundation to find a way to directly support hospital staff, leading them to help fund special gift boxes of gratitude for all French Hospital staff members (see story at right).
Hospital staff receives gift boxes of gratitude from the community
In June 2021, the Foundation distributed special gift boxes to more than 750 hospital staff members, as an expression of gratitude for the care that they have provided to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gift boxes included stress relief items designed to provide staff with much-deserved moments of relaxation and enjoyment.
The Foundation worked with sponsors, donors, local businesses and volunteers to raise funds to support the effort and to acquire items to include in the gift boxes.
The major sponsor for the project, Community West Bank, along with sponsors Collaboration Business Consulting and grateful patient Ryan and Leanne Harris, included notes of gratitude in the boxes.
Hospital employees were genuinely touched by the effort to recognize staff.
“It was just wonderful—a great surprise,” says Brittany Martinez, an Intensive Care Unit nurse.
For more stories of how you and fellow donors are caring for our community, please visit SupportFrenchHospital.org.
