The View from Here
When I was just a young boy, I was encouraged by my parents to read daily during the summer. We had a large wall of books that ranged from a full set of World Book Encyclopedias to modern fiction. One day I found a book with a tattered brown cover; it was filled with fables from Aesop. We’re all familiar with the more common ones: “The Tortoise and the Hare,” “The Lion and the Mouse,” etc. One of the less-known fables I read was “The Oak and the Reeds.” In this story a mighty oak stood tall, surrounded by reeds in a marshy area. The oak often bragged of his unyielding size and strength, noting that the reeds bowed to the slightest breeze. One day a tremendous hurricane uprooted the oak while the reeds continued to flex and spring back upright.
Throughout this past year I have been surrounded by our associates and medical staff who continue to flex when faced with incredible challenges. A year ago we already knew we had ambitious goals planned — before the first COVID case was even a thought. New medical records systems, changes to administrative structures, information technology, human resources, materials management, pursuing nurse magnet status, expanding services, and so many more things were already scheduled before the pandemic.
Throughout this past year I have been surrounded by our associates and medical staff who continue to flex when faced with incredible challenges.
Jeff Brull, HaysMed Foundation Executive Director
When it was apparent that COVID would inevitably affect rural Kansas, preparations began. A special unit was created, and accommodations were made causing a ripple effect that forced changes in space and staffing needs in every department from dietary and housekeeping to the emergency department and ICU and everything in between. Daily education and new protocols were established to adhere to the rapidly changing guidelines for patient care, visitor screening, sanitizing, and isolating potentially affected populations.
Although the people of HaysMed and throughout our region have continued to flex and spring back upright, we look forward to the hurricane subsiding and the sun to shine again so we may rest, recover, and evaluate. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our community, and we invite you to continue supporting our associates and our medical staff that demonstrate resilience every day.