Vista CEO recognizes that nurses make the difference
Nurses Make the Difference
By Barbara Martin
President & CEO
Vista Health System
At some point in our lives, nearly every one of us will come into contact with the healthcare system—whether we're rushing to the emergency room, getting a routine physical, or seeking advice for a persistent cold. And no matter the setting, virtually all of these encounters will have one important thing in common: nurses.
Nurses represent the largest workforce in the U.S. healthcare system, with ranks of approximately 3.1 million, and their contributions to the healthcare field are many. At Vista Health System, our nurses are the largest single segment of our team. They serve Vista Medical Center East and Vista Medical Center West in Waukegan, our Vista Ambulatory Care Center and Freestanding Emergency Center in Lindenhurst, along with our imaging centers and physician practice offices throughout Lake County.
Nurses play an extremely critical role in every area of clinical care—emergency, surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, intensive care, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, wound care, rehabilitation, psychiatric care, and more. Nurses are the “face” of Vista and the frontline of our care teams. They work alongside fellow nurses, physicians, and other clinicians to carefully track patient progress.
In addition to their clinical expertise, our nurses at Vista take pride in the compassion and support they provide to patients and their families. In an environment where individuals can be frightened or confused by what is happening around them, our nurses help explain diagnoses, procedures, tests and medications. They respond to patient concerns, answer questions and help educate patients on their care and treatment. But beyond the skills and knowledge they offer, it's often the kind words, or warm hands, or listening ears they provide that make nurses the most trusted professionals in healthcare.
At Vista Health System, we are thankful for the compassion and clinical excellence that our nurses exhibit every day whether at the bedside or in leadership positions.
During National Nurses Week beginning May 6, we are taking time to recognize and celebrate the nurses in our hospital and community. We urge you—if you see a nurse this week, or any week of the year—to take a moment to reflect on the importance of the job they do, and thank them for helping deliver quality patient care.
Vista Health System is a network that includes: two hospitals in Waukegan – Vista Medical Center East and Vista Medical Center West; the Vista Lindenhurst campus that includes the Vista Ambulatory Care Center, Lindenhurst Surgery Center, LLC, the Vista Freestanding Emergency Center, and the new Vista Medical Office Building; and several locations for imaging, patient therapy and physician practices. Vista is a Center of Excellence in a number of key service areas and is accredited in Bariatric Surgery, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Chest Pain, Congestive Heart Failure, Inpatient Diabetes, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Stroke. To learn more about Vista Health System, please visit VistaHealth.com.