Greetings, CHCC team members.
Grit, tenacity, determination, vigilance, courage.
Those words immediately come to mind when we think of each of you and your response to the coronavirus pandemic. As a team, you have risen to this incredible challenge and have done what it takes to protect the most vulnerable human beings in our community – truly providing skilled health care with compassion and love to those we serve.
Your incredible efforts are noted and appreciated by the leadership team here at CHCC and by the community we serve, as shown in this recent note from a resident’s daughter:
“I’d like to personally thank each one of you who work at CHCC. You are the most amazing caregivers! You take such good care of my mother, and I couldn’t be more grateful that she is there. God bless you all and keep up the good work, while continuing to stay safe!”
Those words are a reminder that being there for our community – in good times and in challenging times – is why CHCC exists. It is our mission, calling and purpose.
We have frequently revisited CHCC’s mission, calling and purpose in recent weeks. Doing so has provided a clear path during critical decision-making times and reminded us that addressing the needs of residents continues to be our primary objective.
For example, operating as a mission-driven nonprofit allows us to put people over profit. The very structure of our organization helped us make the decision to temporarily pause new admissions during the COVID-19 crisis even though doing so would have a negative financial impact on CHCC. Minimizing the risk of exposure to you and to our residents could, thus, remain our primary objective.
We recognize that working through this global pandemic has been challenging and stressful for an extended period. Many of you give your all to serve our residents – operating with love, empathy, care, and compassion – while, at the same time, your thoughts are with loved ones at home or elsewhere in the community. Some of you have partners who have been laid off or children in need of care, which causes additional stress. We see this.
We also see the generosity, kindness and compassion you are showing to each other via encouraging words, small gifts, and extra grace and flexibility. In times of great crisis, you truly shine. #CHCCteamwork
As a board, and as leaders, we are doing what we know needs to be done: protect residents and staff, provide the supplies and equipment you need to do your job, communicate clearly to you and to the public, and continuously ask for ideas and feedback to identify ways we can improve and better serve our stakeholders – staff, residents and their families, and our community.
With that in mind, we ask that you continue to ask questions – sharing feedback in the comment boxes around CHCC or directly with your supervisor. We ask that you also let us know how we can support you as an individual during this time. Please share your needs with a member of the HR team today, and we will do what we can to help.
The coronavirus crisis will pass. This is just a season that we are living and working through.
It is with eager anticipation that we look forward to the day when the doors of 855 Aaron Drive can open and we can personally welcome families, friends, volunteers and other members of the community inside!
Until then, we will carry on with the grit, tenacity, determination, vigilance, courage, love, empathy, care and compassion you are modeling.
Sincerely,
CHCC Board of Trustees (Board Chair Gary Hall, Vice Chair Don Kok, and board members Nancy Hendricks, Joel Hoekema, M.D., Rob Van Loo, Jacki Matter, Claudia VanderHoek, Jim Weinert and Blake Bostrom)