PVH Celebrates Hospital Week
May 12, 2010
(Lincoln, ME--) A hospital is more than a place where people go to heal. It is a part of the community that fosters health and represents hope.
 Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln is celebrating National Hospital Week with a variety of events to employees. “It’s our way of saying thank you to our staff members who work so hard to provide high quality care and a healthy work environment for their coworkers,” says Human Resources Director Sarah Loman. “Tuesday, May 11, we held our Employee Recognition Day events in connection with National Hospital Week. We provided a breakfast for staff along with an afternoon snack, and during those events we distributed our ‘years of service’ pins, which recognize when employees have reached milestones in increments of five years.”
From providing treatment and comfort to the sick to welcoming new life into the world, hospitals are central to a healthy community. That’s the message that national organizers are promoting with the 2010 National Hospital Week theme “Health, Hope & Healing.”
“National Hospital Week, first and foremost, is a celebration of people,” says Chief Executive Officer David A. Shannon. “We’re extremely proud of each member of our staff, and we recognize the important role they play in extending a sense of trust to our patients and our communities.”
The nation’s largest health care event, National Hospital Week from May 9-15, dates back to 1921 when it was suggested by a magazine editor who hoped a community-wide celebration would alleviate public fears about hospitals. The event, launched in Chicago, succeeded in promoting trust and goodwill among members of the public and eventually spread to facilities all across the country.
Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln has had an eventful year with the installment of a new helipad in connection with LifeFlight of Maine, a significant energy-saving program which changed practices and equipment throughout the hospital, and a number of front-line staff being promoted into management positions. PVH renovated its Emergency Department, adding two new treatment beds, an observation area, and a new corridor to increase quietness near patient rooms.
Earlier this year, the hospital won several awards for its customer service efforts. A task force at PVH was one of only a handful of groups around the country which won a Summit Award from Custom Learning Systems, Ltd. The hospital group had formed a campaign called H.U.S.H. or Help Us Support Healing, and the program focused on multiple ways to lower the amount of noise within the hospital. The effort included everything from staff wearing buttons that say “H.U.S.H.” to oiling or replacing squeaky wheels and encouraging people to wear soft-soled shoes.
PVH also operates a grant-funded Healthy Maine Partnership organization which provides educational services to the community. S.P.R.I.N.T. for Life offers educational seminars and written materials to the public on alcohol misuse, tobacco cessation, proper nutrition and physical activity. The S.P.R.I.N.T. staff works with businesses, clubs, and the schools to extend its message of healthy living and good wellness choices. All of these educational opportunities and materials are presented to the community free of charge.
The hospital has also recently increased its hours for a variety of services including laboratory and imaging or x-ray testing to accommodate more people in the community. “It’s all about putting our patients first,” says Shannon. “We strive to make our services as convenient and efficient as possible while providing the highest quality care with compassion and kindness.”
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