By Tony Ohl and Phil Scott / For The Herald
Our state’s hospitals — both private and public — are at or near capacity in nearly all communities in the state, and the trends are alarming. Some people chose to defer treatments last year and are now consequently dealing with more serious conditions. Others cannot or have not received a covid-19 vaccination, and our covid case numbers locally are approaching our previous pandemic peak.
Sadly, at Providence today, nearly half of the intensive care unit (ICU) beds are filled by unvaccinated covid patients.
Neither firefighters, nor law enforcement, nor militaries, nor health care workers can protect a community whom they serve without the help, support and active participation of the community, regardless of how well-equipped, professional or caring their organization is.
With a shared sacrifice and lifetimes of service, professionals work every day to serve us and to protect us and to ease our way.
We support getting vaccinated and wearing our masks each day because we want to honor our community’s caregivers’ service and we want to lighten their burden. If our small actions can save them from having to treat one more person — or perhaps save them from watching one more unvaccinated person head into the ICU — it’s a lighter burden for us to bear.
We respect and admire our incredible caregivers at Providence, and our heartfelt thanks go to them. We thank them for everything they have done and endured during the last 18-plus months, and we owe them a debt of gratitude. Not everyone wants to wear a mask or get vaccinated, but whether you do it with or without a smile, we humbly ask that you just do it. It’s simply a thank-you to those who serve our community and an acknowledgement that you, too, can share in their sacrifice. And, perhaps, ease their way.
Tony Ohl is chairman of Providence Health & Services, Northwest Washington Region Community Mission Board Phil Scott is the vice-chairman for Providence Health & Services, Northwest Washington Region Community Mission Board.
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