What is a hospital? Is it the four walls that stand tall over the city? Is it the equipment that detects, protects and heals? No, a hospital is really made up of people. People, who are in need of help, people who are facing tragedy, or welcoming in joy. A hospital is the people who dedicate their lives to healing, to helping to care for those in their time of need.

Our hospital is not just the building you drive past every day, it’s the amazingly talented and giving people who are nurses, doctors, technicians and staff. They are your neighbors and friends, they work while you sleep; they leave their families to care for yours. They stand for hours, and hold hundreds of hands as news that alters lives is delivered. They comfort those in pain and they laugh along when it’s the only thing that breaks the silence. You may not look forward to spending time with them, but they will always look forward to seeing you.

We celebrate Hospital Week every year during the second week in May to celebrate all of our hospital employees and show appreciation for everything they do and the sacrifices they make. It’s held in conjunction with Nurses Week, which is a time to highlight our dedicated nurses who are a vital part of keeping the Carlsbad community healthy.

Nurses are truly remarkable people. They have a passion for caring, and a commitment to quality and patient safety. They work tirelessly to ensure that our patients’ needs are met, and seldom get the recognition they deserve. They want to make a difference in other people’s lives, and they often do. We would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt “thank you” to our outstanding nurses at CMC.

Our hospital is committed now more than ever to being a hospital of people who are devoted to providing the highest quality of care and service to the people of this community. At its best a hospital is the heart of a community and we strive to be that for Carlsbad. We will be here for you, no matter what time of day or night, or type of care you might need, because we are caregivers that truly care.

As we wrap up Hospital and Nurses Week, we thank all the people who make our hospital more than just four walls. We thank you for seeking our services no matter how unwanted they might have been at the time. We thank our outstanding staff that provides tirelessly to this community. We thank this community for giving us a place to call home and a population to serve.

Cathy Hibbs is the CEO of Carlsbad Medical Center.

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