The theme of this year's National Hospital Week celebration is The Healing Heart of Healthcare. This is a fitting theme, as hospitals are often at the very heart of communities, contributing to their physical, emotional and financial health.
During National Hospital Week, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital celebrates the more than 300 associates who work together 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to ensure quality medical care is available to those who need it.
National Hospital Week was established in 1953, and this year it will be celebrated from May 7-13. The dates overlap the celebration of National Nurses Week, and were chosen to coincide with Florence Nightingale's birthday, honoring her role in revolutionizing hospital care in the mid 1800s. These celebratory weeks give us an opportunity each year to pay tribute to the 5.6 million physicians, nurses, therapists, food service workers, volunteers and many more who care for their communities with skill, dedication and compassion.
Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is proud to serve Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma with high-quality clinical services that continue to expand, year after year. In 2016, our hospital touched 74,000 lives through inpatient and outpatient care. We performed nearly 3,000 surgeries, delivered more than 600 babies and treated more than 20,000 patients in our emergency department. The high standards set by our dedicated healthcare professionals have drawn the attention of national accrediting bodies and respected agencies, including The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval with outstanding results.
National Hospital Week also serves as a reminder that hospitals truly matter in our society and are worth fiercely protecting. From providing treatment and comfort to the sick, to welcoming new life into the world, hospitals are indeed at the heart of healthy and vibrant communities.
Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is proud to acknowledge and celebrate our associates and other healthcare providers, who tirelessly serve the community and personify the healing heart of healthcare. The week will culminate with the Healthy Community Fair held on the hospital campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. Help us celebrate by attending this free event filled with health information and resources for all ages, fun activities, a teddy bear clinic and live wellness demonstrations.
Editorial on 05/10/2017