Love in Action : Thanking Frontline Heroes
Love in Action : Week 13
Love in Action : Alternating Wednesdays 12-1pm mst
Please join Lead with Love for zoom webinars every other Wednesday that highlight current issues related to community wellbeing, such as justice, freedom and climate change that need of our help. We will provide tangible actions and perform these efforts during the 1 hour meeting.
This week our efforts will focus on Thanking Frontline Heroes.
At this moment, we are experiencing the worst surge yet of the pandemic, with the highest hospitalizations and death tolls so far. These healthcare workers have been on the frontline for the entire duration.
Please join us in writing thank you notes to these doctors and nurses. It’s a simple effort that might just make someone’s day.
If you haven’t yet registered for Love in Action, please do so by clicking the button below.
What You’ll Need
Pen/Pencil
Note Card/Stationary
Envelopes/Stamps
Paper/Journal
Computer with Email/Wifi
The Pandemic + Healthcare Workers
HCPs Face a Greater Risk of Contracting Covid
(A) Between March 24 and April 23, 2020, considerable disparities were noted in prevalence of a positive COVID-19 test among front-line health-care workers compared with the general community, in both the UK and the USA. (B) Prevalence of a positive COVID-19 test reported by front-line health-care workers in the UK and the USA. Regions in grey did not have sufficient data for analysis. app=COVID-19 Symptom Study smartphone application. (thelancet.com)
Healthcare professionals have unparalleled exposure to coronavirus.
Some states provide inconsistent and unclear protocols regarding exposures and quarantines.
Even after all of this time, many healthcare professionals are often under-equipped with the complete set of necessary PPE.
Difficulty accessing testing
Healthcare Professionals are at risk for trauma and emotional injury
“They [nurses] have become, in some ways, a kind of emotional surrogate for family members who can’t be there, to support and advise and offer a human touch. They have witnessed incredible amounts of suffering and death. That, I think, also weighs really heavily on nurses.”
Data is showing troubling signs of insomnia, anxiety, depression, and burnout among healthcare professionals
The circumstances in hospitals are being describes as the closest to combat as seen in civilian settings.
Anxieties and stresses of being at high risk of exposure
Management of prolonged and elevated stress with acute exasperations throughout the surges this year in combination with unclear timeline— not knowing for how long this will go on
Understaffed/unnatural labor hours
Step into Action
“I love when I get handwritten notes from my patients or their loved ones. It’s something that I can keep. I honestly take a copy for my manager and keep the original for myself. When I have hard times, I always go back to these notes to remind myself that I can make a difference.”
Send Online Messages of Gratitude and Encouragement:
Send Notes by Mail
We believe that sending handwritten notes or drawings has an extra impact— it’s an additional demonstration of your time and effort.
Mail to an individual
Mail to a group
Some regional addresses for your convenience
COLORADO
Aspen Valley Hospital 401 Castle Creek Rd, Aspen, CO 81611
Midvalley Medical Center 1450 E Valley Rd, Basalt, CO 81621
Vail Health Hospital 180 S Frontage Rd W, Vail, CO 81657
Denver Health 777 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204
Porter Hospital 11700 W 2nd Pl, Lakewood, CO 80226
University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) 12605 E 16th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045
Valley View Hospital 1906 Blake Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Roaring Fork Family Practice 978 Euclid Ave, Carbondale, CO 81623
Women’s Health 1830 Blake Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Eagle Valley Family Practice 377 Sylvan Lake Rd #220, Eagle, CO 81631
OREGON
OHSU 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239
Providence Portland Medical Center 4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97213
NEW YORK
Elmhurst Hospital Center 79-01 Broadway, Elmhurst, NY 11373
Lincoln Medical Center 234 E 149th St, The Bronx, NY 10451
Woodhull Medical Center 760 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital 16 Guion Pl, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Some Ideas for How to Phrase Your Messages
Your own voice is ALWAYS best, but here are some phrases for inspiration. And if you’d like to use any of these phrases as they are, they are yours. We encourage you to participate however best fits your process.
“Happy holidays and thank you for your efforts this year.”
“Please know we appreciate you and your hard work. Thank you and happy holidays.”
“Thank you for working to keep this country healthy.”
“Thank you for protecting our community during this national pandemic.”