Health, Heal­ing, Hope, and Heart… the Many ​“H’s” in Our Hospital

The "H" is a nod to the familiar blue and white directional sign on American highways. It is the place you go in an emergency or when you or a loved one is ill. The American Hospital Association's new initiative involves "Redefining the H." In its report, the AHA explains the steps toward challenging the status quo:

Hospitals must join with other diverse community stakeholder groups to:

• Assess both community health challenges and strengths;
• Identify gaps in competencies and services (what services are lacking within a community, in which areas does duplication exist, what trained health care providers are needed, etc.);
• Proactively collaborate and strengthen diverse partnerships to facilitate greater community collaboration;
• Break down community silos to create a shared vision for future health care, including but not limited to the role of the hospital, within a community; and
• Develop sustainable business models that allow partners to first achieve but then sustain goals.

The challenges and rewards of great healthcare are not a national issue. Healthcare is LOCAL. In Onslow County we are fortunate to have the collaboration and cooperation of diverse governments, agencies, organizations and businesses who understand this and are supportive of us as we continue our journey to improve the health of our community. To do this successfully we will have to challenge the status quo. This could mean changing the what and the how of what we do while maintaining the why behind the "H" .... Health, Healing, Hope and Heart.

Thank you for your continued support for your community hospital.

Sincerely,

Penney Burlingame Deal, DHA
President & Chief Executive Officer