Jan L. Bergen, CEO, Lancaster General Health
As I reflect on the past several days, I would like to offer my warmest thanks to all of you for your tireless work. It is amazing what we as a Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health family have accomplished together in a very short time.
I understand that it has come with a toll. Many of you are focused on COVID-19 preparedness 24 hours a day, and you are probably feeling depleted. I would ask you to keep in mind that we are on mile one of a marathon. We need to find ways to keep ourselves recharged and to rely on one another so we have the energy and passion to continue our work.
Like you, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what’s happening in the world today. I don’t remember another time when literally every aspect of our world has so been impacted, from the economy to the lives of our children, parents, spouses and everyone we love.
At the same time, our work has changed dramatically. Our focus has shifted from operational performance and continuous improvement to hunkering down and ensuring that we as an organization are ready for anything that comes our way. I feel very confident in our preparedness as a result of the great work that has been done over the past several weeks.
In a matter of days, we have accomplished so much, from opening our community testing site to responding to the urgent needs of our Blood Donor Center. Staff from all over LG Health have raised their hands and asked how they can help. For many of you, this means being redeployed into new roles. Everyone I’ve encountered is ready to do whatever is asked of them. This says a lot about the culture of our organization and our amazing workforce.
The support from our community – and indeed, from all over the world – has been heartwarming. I can’t stop watching an incredibly uplifting video from Madrid, where people come out to their windows or balconies every evening to clap and cheer in honor of health-care workers. We are seeing a similar outpouring of love and support from the communities we serve.
During these difficult times, I ask you to remember that we all chose a career in health care so we could help others. This experience will change our lives forever in many positive ways. The one thing I know is that at the end of this pandemic, when normalcy returns, we will have a lot to be very proud of.
Also remember that we need to rely on one another. There will be times when we feel anxious, concerned, worried or sad. There are many resources available to help you – take advantage of them, and most importantly, remember we have each other.
Thank you for all that you do, for living our mission every single day, and for your remarkable resilience as we continue to face this unprecedented challenge together.