There are those who run to the fire. Sometimes heroism is a matter of just showing up.
The reality of the coronavirus has sunk in to all corners of the country, if not the entire world. The spread of the virus, along with the increased availability of testing and other factors, contributes to the availability of more accurate data and higher numbers. We are at a point in time where we are dealing with a great deal of apprehension about the disease notwithstanding all of the safeguards against it.
If we want to glean a positive aspect out of all this, it appears to me that everyone is taking this disease a lot more seriously than just a week ago. Reality has finally set in. Social distancing is being practiced. People are staying home voluntarily where it is not mandated. Our compliance with the safeguards will go a long way toward slowing and eventually defeating this pandemic.
The healthcare ministries of SMP Health System are doing their part to protect the overall health of the communities where they are located by the various restrictions on visitation and other safeguards that they have implemented and information they have disseminated. They are following the current regulations and guidance from state and federal sources in order to maintain the safety of our patients, residents, and employees inside each facility.
Notwithstanding all of the safeguards, there is still an underlying apprehension or even fear, both inside and outside of our facilities. I would like to acknowledge our front-line employees who have been steadfast in their commitment to the patients and residents in their care. They are unsung heroes who demonstrate their love and concern for their neighbors and communities by showing up for work in the face of their own apprehensions, who strive to maintain a positive attitude and give their best efforts under difficult circumstances.
Aaron K. Alton
President/CEO, SMP Health System