Letters: Our healthcare heroes will get us through this

As a recently retired healthcare executive—having spent 41 years in healthcare management, 32 of those in CEO positions—I’ve seen a lot. I was a department director when Three Mile Island had its breakdown emergency and CEO of a large Virginia hospital near the Pentagon on 9/11, just to name two. Coupled with all those countless other emergent and urgent situations that come up seemingly every week, I thought I’d seen just about everything. But then the COVID-19 pandemic came along, and I realized I was seeing something entirely different.

This letter isn’t about any of the clinical unknowns, material shortages or social issues—it’s about a new kind of hero. We all grew up with heroes, whether they were cowboys, movie stars, or maybe a favorite teacher. Then 9/11 came along, and we recognized a new kind of hero—our first responders. Our police, fire fighters, EMTs and everyone who puts their lives on the line for us every day for one emergency or another. And now, we have yet another kind of hero—the nurses, doctors, techs, aides, support staff and everyone else in healthcare today. Of course, just like first responders, they’ve been with us all along. And their work has always been heroic.

We’ve all heard the pleas for more gowns, face shields, masks, ventilators, etc. These are real pleas from real people. The physicians, nurses, techs, and aides caring directly for these terribly sick coronavirus-infected patients desperately need these things to help protect them from catching the disease themselves. But what’s never been in short supply? Commitment, loyalty, responsibility, duty and honor.

I know as a retired healthcare exec I’m a little biased, but these professionals give me great hope and reassurance that together, with good people like this helping others, we’ll all get through this intact and even stronger than before. Thank you, front-liners, and may God bless you!

Steven E. Brown
Downingtown, Pa.

Early on in the COVID-19 crisis, we were told that this infectious disease is “the great equalizer.” It knows no geographic boundaries, doesn’t care what your politics are and kills people from all walks of life. More recently, though, another truth has emerged: People of color, particularly blacks, are far more likely to die from the coronavirus than whites—a stark reminder of the social inequities that plague our society and the role of the social determinants of health.

The fact is, people in the industry already knew a virus such as this would take its highest toll on communities of color. They are populations that lack equal access to good nutrition, fair housing, quality healthcare, and suffer the most from underlying chronic conditions such as asthma, hypertension and diabetes. The question is, what will we do about it?

One major answer is to improve diversity in leadership and governance roles in healthcare organizations. Black representation in healthcare boardrooms and executive offices, where decisions are made on resource allocation, policies and practices with life-or-death ramifications, is essential if we are to avoid a repeat of COVID-19. The unique perspectives and life experiences that black directors bring to the table help their fellow directors truly understand disparities in access and quality. Such collective “wokeness” is a trait of highly successful organizations.

This pandemic is a defining moment for everyone, especially organizations charged with providing equitable care for the most vulnerable populations.

Antoinette Hardy-Waller
Founder and CEO
The Leverage Network