Health care heroes were there

Friday, Feb. 26, 2010

Maryland's hospitals and caregivers have led the way ... to shelter, to safety, to confidence that care will be there when people need it.

That, of course, is the "norm" every day, 24 hours a day. But the recent historic and abnormally dangerous weather conditions made it evident to all that the real norm for hospitals is their special, caring people ... and their willingness to literally brave the storm to take care of their neighbors regardless of the risk. At a time when the true meaning of the word "hero" has been diluted by being applied to everyone from sports stars to movie stars, let's remember the real definition: "One who shows great courage." That defines the doctors, nurses, technicians and so many others who sacrificed sleep, time at home and, in many cases, risked their lives to take care of patients. It defines the volunteers, like drivers of four-wheel-drive vehicles and snowplows, who risked their safety to get patients, nurses, doctors and other caregivers to their local hospitals and ensure that there was access when they got there. And it defines the hospital leaders who spent countless hours helping to make it all happen.

To all of Maryland's health care heroes: We salute you, and we are proud to represent you.

Carmela Coyle, Gene M. Ransom III and Ed Suddath, Elkridge

The writers are, respectively, president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association, CEO of MedChi and executive director of the Maryland Nurses Association.