Northwest Health Remains Steadfast in Service to Northwest Indiana

4/29/2021

I write today with hope for the future and gratitude for the resilience of our provider team at Northwest Health. The pandemic has demonstrated how interconnected we all are, the impact each one of us can have and the benefit of working together for a common cause. We care deeply about our community and remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver safe, quality healthcare services.

The arc of life is always present in a hospital, but its frailty has been very clear the past year. Well more than a half million patients received the medical care they needed thanks to our physicians, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, lab techs, housekeepers, food service workers and other providers, who have worked tirelessly to maintain a safe environment.

More than 1,900 babies took their first breaths in our Birthing & Family Care units and we celebrated with their moms. More than 70,000 walked away in better shape than when they came in – with less pain following a joint replacement, a heart beating in rhythm after receiving a pacemaker or open heart surgery, or a severe wound treated after a trip to one of our Emergency Departments.

With pride and relief we have cheered hundreds of patients who left for home after beating COVID-19. But there have been times of sadness too, as our caregivers helped patients transition at the end of life and comforted the loved ones who grieve for their loss.

Helping people get well and live healthier is rewarding work, and we are grateful for the trust every patient places in us. And we feel the support of the community as you’ve extended thanks and encouragement through meals, first responder parades, and sweet thank you cards.

Led by local administration and advisory boards of community leaders and physicians, we are putting our resources toward increased medical services, facilities and technologies that are important to our patients. These include the new hospital we opened in La Porte last year. Access has been enhanced as we recruited 23 new providers to the community in 2020 alone. Our physicians are now offering telehealth visits, making it easier than ever to see a doctor when you’re in the comfort of home.

We value our relationship with the communities in Northwest Indiana and our impact is felt in many ways. The more than $37 million in taxes we paid last year support critical infrastructure such as first responders, schools and roads. Wages and benefits for our provider team generate buying power for local goods and services and help drive the local economy. And we deliver care for our most vulnerable residents, last year providing more than $51 million of charity and uncompensated care.

Hope is on the horizon as COVID-19 vaccinations are underway and we look forward to a time when we can all gather. Until then, keep up the safe practices – wear a mask or face covering, maintain social distancing and regularly wash your hands. By following these simple acts we can do extraordinary things.

Wishing good health for all,

Ashley Dickinson, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer
Northwest Health

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