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Discussions over the future of our nation’s health care have been very heated, and it is easy to forget that behind the numbers and economic plans there are real people, health professionals that work every day in service of America. We take our health-care workers for granted too often, and remembering and honoring them for what they do is vital.
Recently, a friend of mine had major surgery, and during visitation I got a closer view of a hospital’s inner workings than I had ever experienced before.
Without exception, the nurses, doctors, anesthesiologists, and other members of the hospital staff I interacted with were friendly, sympathetic and helpful while demonstrating a high degree of proficiency and knowledge.
It was interesting to note that the working of a hospital is almost machine-like; it is derived from procedures and protocols, clauses of cause and effect that send doctors and nurses scurrying to and fro to deal with each new emergency. Although a hospital may appear on the outside as light pastel walls and cold precision, it is a vibrant and benevolent extension of humanity.
No health-care professional I have met is in it merely for the paycheck. Many staff members wade into the health-care system solely to help others, despite the knowledge that their gifts may not be fully appreciated or recognized.
The reason I find hospital employees to be so inspiring is that they provide aid when people are in a state of need. Long hours and constant activity might flag the energy of some, but most hospital workers keep striving to do their best for their patients.
As I watched my friend’s recuperation, I was struck by how many different hospital employees interact with each patient. Workers seen and unseen provide for needs ranging from the custodial to the dietary to the medical.
The large number of givers in health care and the wide range of jobs they perform reminds one that caregiving is not out of place in any profession, or even in daily life. It need not be limited to the employees of a hospital. How one treats others is important in every profession. Even individuals not obviously in need deserve compassion.
My brief stint through a hospital was an eye-opener that reminded me of all that our health-care workers do for us and the importance of professionalism and kindness. Next time I hear a health-care debate, I’ll think about the issue a little differently and with a wider perspective.
Zach Levonian is a senior at Onalaska High School.
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