Guest opinion: Northwest Healthcare Remains Steadfast in Service to Tucson Area | Opinion

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As our community is experiencing another spike in COVID, I write today with gratitude for the resilience of our vendor teams at Northwest Healthcare. Every single employee in our system has contributed to keeping our community healthy and taking care of those who get sick. I am incredibly proud of their work, but also of our health system as a whole.

Northwest Healthcare includes Northwest Medical Center, Oro Valley Hospital, Northwest Medical Sahuarita, stand-alone emergency centers in Marana and Vail, and emergency care, medical offices and surgical centers across the region. We will shortly be expanding our range of services to include a fourth hospital – the Northwest Medical Center Houghton. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how closely we are all connected, the impact each of us can have, and the benefits of working together for a common cause. We care deeply about our community and stand firm in our dedication to providing safe, high quality healthcare services.

The arc of life is always present in a hospital, but its frailty has become very evident in the last year. More than 800,000 patients received the medical care they needed thanks to our doctors, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, laboratory technicians, housekeepers, food service workers and other providers who have worked tirelessly to maintain a safe environment. Our foster family put their personal fears and worries aside and came to help every day with courage and courage.

More than 2000 babies took their first breaths at Northwest Medical Center and we celebrated with their mothers. Tens of thousands of our friends and neighbors left in better shape than when they arrived – with less pain after a joint replacement, a stronger heartbeat after an open heart surgery, or a relieved smile when their mammography or colonoscopy was clear.

With pride and relief, we cheered hundreds of patients who went home after defeating COVID-19. But there were also times of sadness as our caregivers helped patients through the end of life transition and comforted loved ones who mourn their loss.

Helping people get healthy and live healthier lives is rewarding work, and we are grateful for the trust that each patient has in us. And we feel the support of the community as you have expressed your thanks and encouragement through countless meals, beautiful cards, hand-sewn mask donations, painted stones on our campus and so many other touching gestures. A year and a half later, we are still here every day, taking care of COVID patients and the many others who need our help. Your support – in the form of cards, banners, meals, and good wishes – is still very much appreciated. If you know someone who works in our hospitals or clinics, please contact them – and let them know that you are grateful for their work. Your support is critical in helping our team through an incredibly difficult time.

Under the direction of a local administration and advisory boards made up of community leaders and doctors, we have focused intensively on expanding access to health care across the region. We are happy to announce that our plans are moving forward – despite COVID-19. We spent $ 125 million on expansions and upgrades, broke ground for Northwest Medical Center Houghton last April, and opened Northwest Medical Center Sahuarita in November. We’ve purchased new equipment and updated Northwest Medical Center and Oro Valley Hospital, adding many new providers to our network to give patients more opportunities to get the care they need. Many of our doctors now offer telemedicine, making it easier than ever to see the doctor from the comfort of your home.

We value our relationship with Pima County. The nearly $ 29 million tax we paid last year supports critical infrastructure like first responders, schools, and roads. Wages and social benefits for our nearly 3,000 employees create purchasing power for local goods and services and help promote the local economy. And we care for our most vulnerable residents, donating more than $ 52 million to charity and unpaid care last year.

Although our community is currently seeing another surge in COVID-19 cases, I believe there is hope on the horizon – vaccines are readily available and many in our community have already been vaccinated. While we look forward to a time when COVID-19 is a distant memory, we remain determined to serve our strong and vibrant community – now and in the future.

Brian Sinotte is Northwest Healthcare’s Market Chief Executive Officer.

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