Collective Goods (formerly Books are Fun) will be on-site this Friday, October 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a books & gifts sale. They will be in Conference Rooms A & B, and proceeds from the sale will benefit the PVMC Foundation. This is a great opportunity to get your holiday shopping started early!
Employment Openings at Platte Valley
We all know that Platte Valley Medical Center is a great place to work. We currently have no fewer than 59 open positions waiting to be filled! If you know someone in need of a job, or who wants to work at a high-performing hospital with a culture of safety and also offers a positive work-life balance, direct them to the employment page on our website, https://pvmc.org/about-us/employment/current-openings.
Visitors from Poland
PVMC entertained some special guests recently (eight young people with their adult chaperones) from Brighton’s Sister City in Poland, Ziebice.
A Moment In Time – Happiness Is
Happiness is …
By Daryl L. Meyers
… a choice. Sounds strange, doesn’t it. But it’s true. Happiness IS a choice. It’s not some magical experience that unexpectedly “happens” to us somewhere along the way, nor is it determined by where we live, our culture, or our family heritage.
As children (and often as adults) we imagine a life that arranges itself in line with our needs or desires, but things don’t always work out according to our plans. In fact seldom do they, nor do others always agree with our wishes or demands.
We may have some great relationships, but there will also be times of disagreement and disappointment. Listening to others who care is wise, but allowing their opinions to control how we live and the decisions we make is not.
Life happens the way it happens and it’s up to us to decide how to relate to the experiences we go through. If we see circumstances or events as undermining or offensive, our happiness will disappear like mist before the morning sun.
All of us must make choices. We can fight or accept what comes our way … become better or bitter. It’s up to us. By resisting or fighting “what is,” we disempower ourselves, for … “what is … IS.” … and there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s already here. It’s already happened. Our job is not to try and change whatever’s occurred (that would be impossible), but to accept.
Although we may not be consciously aware, on some level we call to ourselves people and situations that help move us from who we think we are, to who we really are. We begin to understand a universal truth. Life doesn’t happen “to us” but “through us.” This process is gradual, ongoing and constant. How we relate to what we go through determines the measure of joy and happiness we experience.
When we embrace the darkness as well as the light; when we see the gift in every experience, regardless of the forms in which they come, we will know that all things do work together for our good. It is then, regardless of how difficult or challenging the way, that happiness will no longer be a fleeting experience, determined by whim or circumstance, or the opinions and actions of others, but will always be … all ways… a choice.
ED Director Assists with Hurricane Disaster Relief
Recently, after returning from a 21-day deployment, Wendy Colon, Director of PVMC’s Emergency Department, made an appearance on Fox 31’s “Good Day Colorado” news program where she shared her experiences involving hurricane relief efforts in the U.S. and the Caribbean.
Wendy and her 36-member National Disaster Medical System team, of which she was the Commander, were deployed to Texas, and eventually ended up in Puerto Rico where she and her team provided emergency medical and mental health assistance.
Her team of physicians, nurses, paramedics, administrators, logistics and mental health personnel, assisted with a broad range of emergency needs resulting from hurricane Harvey, in Texas, and also in Puerto Rico and St. John (US Virgin Islands) after the damage caused by hurricane Irma.
In Puerto Rico, they was involved in repatriation work at the airport, and also opened a dialysis shelter for more than 120 dialysis patients that came from the Virgin Islands.
Together Wendy’s team along with medical personnel from other parts of the States were able to assist with the medical emergency needs and temporary shelters for thousands of residents affected by the recent hurricanes.
“This was such a rewarding experience for me and my team,” said Wendy. “Thank you all for the support that you gave me and the ED while I was gone. I appreciated the time to be able to do this important work.”
St. John
Remembering the Children
Maria Lochran began collecting children’s books for PVMC and Salud in 2014 when she noticed the medical facilities she was visiting had adult magazines, but very little for children waiting with their parents. It was then she made the decision to take the money she received from her garage sales to purchase children’s books, which she donated, to Platte Valley Medical Center and Salud.
The first year she donated 400 books, the second year over 900 and even though she had a stroke, managed to donate another 200 books last year (contributed by Connie Haney on her behalf through a contact made by Linda Young).
A very big THANK YOU to Maria is definitely in order for remembering the children (and their parents) visiting our hospital.
Linda Young, Sheryl Sorensen (PVMC Director of Volunteers), Mary Ladwig and Maria Lochran (wheelchair)