Compassion is Our Way

Compassion is Our Way

The past few months have been very difficult, challenging, and stressful for us all. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in ways we could not previously have imagined. As your community hospital, we prepared for the initial influx of patients; we complied with state orders to shelter in place at home; we practiced social distancing, and we stopped doing many of our normal activities so that we could help prevent the spread of the virus. Now, as the country begins to reopen, we find ourselves in the midst of nationwide protests and violence that highlight the racial divide and inequalities within our country, including here in our own communities. This issue has not occurred overnight but has been with us for some time. It has risen to the surface again, and we all have a responsibility to work to be part of the solution.

At Southwest General, we acknowledge the current anger and frustration in our country, and we denounce violence, racism, and discrimination in all forms. As we move forward, we remain committed to supporting one another and those we serve with respect, empathy, and understanding. We will continue to focus on making a difference through what we do best—providing hope and healing to all who seek care, regardless of race, faith, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.

As a health care provider, we have a shared responsibility to work with others to improve the health and well-being of our community members. To do this, we recognize that we must come together to have the difficult conversations that will help us better understand one another and find common ground from which we can work together and make our communities more inclusive.

This year, Southwest General celebrates 100 years of providing health care to our communities. We have a long and storied history of working to make a difference for those we serve. We have done this by living our mission: Health is our Passion; Quality is our Focus; Compassion is our Way. Our organization was built by people from different backgrounds working together. By recognizing and embracing our differences, we have built an organization that has endured. We must commit ourselves to continuing to work together, with the understanding that we will succeed because of our differences, not despite them.

At Southwest General, we believe strongly that every person deserves the chance to be equally heard and supported to live a long and fruitful life. Let us continue to embrace one another with respect and empathy.

Sincerely,

William A. Young, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer