‘The support from the community keeps us going every day’ Reflections from MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital

By MultiCare Health System

On a warm, sunny April afternoon, Pierce County police, fire and EMTs honored MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital employees with an appreciation parade. As first responders drove around hospital entrances, employees were invited to take a few moments to emerge from the hospital and soak in some gratitude.

Good Samaritan has been caring for COVID-19 patients since the beginning of the pandemic in Washington. Throughout the COVID-19 response, community members have been providing a morale boost to health care workers through kind words, donations and artwork.

Read the following reflections from Good Samaritan team members about working at the hospital and what the outpouring of support from the community means to them.

Steve Prideaux, Manager of Engineering Services

“I’ve served my country in a war where I walked with a lot of heroes. I walk with heroes here at Good Samaritan every day.

These are people who are putting themselves at risk and dealing with the same challenges all of us are facing at home.

We are all here to put others before us. The community support validates what we do and makes us feel good about our commitment. It reminds us who we serve and why we serve.

What makes me hopeful for the future is that we’ll all learn from this and get even better at what we do. We can face any challenge together.”

Charlene Falgout, Chief Nurse

“I’m so proud to watch our nurses, day after day, dress up in gear and take care of our patients with courage, heart and grace. They adapt to the numerous changes and they continue to do the right thing to protect and care for their patients and families.

I’ve been a nurse for 42 years. The heartfelt outpouring of community support has been remarkable and really provides us with strength and support.

After all of this, I can’t wait to go see my nine grandkids in Louisiana. We’ve been doing Facetime, but I can’t wait to see them in person.”

Lescia Myers, Clinical Director, Critical Care

Lescia has been leading the COVID-19 teams at Good Samaritan.

“The support from the community is what brings joy to staff throughout the day. It makes us feel like we are not alone.

I want to celebrate our COVID-19 teams on 8-Dally and 5-Dally. My team and the staff at Good Samaritan Hospital have been amazing. The support from the community and the response from the system and across the nation makes me hopeful for the future.”

Michele Rivers, Director of Nutrition Services

“The support from the community is beyond. It’s beyond. We just love you for it.

We all have families at home. But we are all a family too.

My team has more than eighty people and we’re at the frontlines of this pandemic as well. I’m proud of the way that we’ve been able to help others. I’m also proud that we can still come here and have fun.” (Check out the TikTok video that Michele’s team created.)

Acacia Corson, Patient Access

“I love all of the community support – I love all of the art. Something so small can make such a difference. The small businesses who have had to cut their own business but are still making donations to support us – it speaks volumes.

What makes me hopeful is the way everyone at Good Samaritan Hospital jumped into action during this crisis, ready to do assist one another and other departments any way they could.

After all of this, I can’t wait to see my friends up close and hang out.

My two-year-old daughter keeps me hopeful. She reminds me of what things used to be like.”

Daniel Wemhaner, Executive Chef

“I started working at MultiCare in January, so this experience has meant a lot to me. I’m proud of all of the teamwork, everyone at Good Samaritan coming together, our community coming together. It’s impressive. The signs, the donations, the community support is so great. It’s brought out the best in everyone.

Today, there are a lot of extra steps, precautions and processes we’re taking to keep everyone safe. I’m so grateful for Michele Rivers – she really goes to bat for our team.

After all of this, I can’t wait to get a haircut!”

Cynthia Mendoza, Patient Access Supervisor

“The community support is beautiful. We feel valued. When you are appreciated for the little things, it makes the struggles worthwhile.

I’ve been so proud of my Patient Access team throughout all of this. Many of them are facing hardships and have family members who are not working, but they show up to work and continue to serve.

After all of this, I hope we keep certain norms alive – like covering your coughs and sneezes!”

Mary Jo Allen, Patient Access

“I’ve worked here for 42 years. Good Samaritan has always felt like home to me. And the support from the community makes it even more so. This is such a good place to live and work.

I feel peace right now. It feels like we’re doing everything we can.

I’m proud of the way that our team is trying to be thoughtful about doing the right thing for patients, listening to their concerns and responding in kind, thoughtful, respectful ways.”

Tricia Vaesau, Patient Access

“I’m proud of the way our community has come together throughout this crisis.

What makes me hopeful every day is being able to go home to my five kids. We love our new family game night tradition, especially charades and BINGO.”

Rocky Ross, Volunteer

“I’m a retired lead mechanic for United Airlines. My wife, Sandy, is a PACU nurse here, so she is the one who convinced me to volunteer. I normally restock carts on the hospital floors, but I’ve been helping out at the loading dock, accepting the donations from the community.

A lot of people want to give to the hospital and I’m so glad to see people stepping in to help any way they can. All of us are in this together.”

Sandy Ross, RN, BSN, CPAN – PACU Nurse

“I’ve worked here for 29 years. The community support right now is very heartening. The artwork is wonderful! We have pictures from kids in the PACU. We also love the donated meals.

I want to recognize some of the unsung heroes like our housekeeping and nutrition services team members. They are just as exposed as the rest of us and they are doing such great work.

After all this, I can’t wait until we can travel again. There’s a smooth jazz cruise Rocky and I really want to be able to take one day.”

Carly Nicholson, Imaging Supervisor

“Being appreciated and recognized can get you through a lot of things. The support from the community keeps us going every day. The food, notes, artwork, parades, flowers keep everyone going and the positivity flowing.

At Good Samaritan, people are really taking care of each other. It’s such a cohesive environment. We all need each other. We all work to build each other up. Our imaging team rocks. Our CT techs rock.”

Dr. Dennis Kolb, MD, Chief Medical Officer

“I’m proud of the way our teams have been flexible with all of the changes, never losing sight of why we are all here. Everyone who works here has stepped up in their own way. What makes me hopeful for the future is knowing the strength of our team.

The support from the community is everything – it’s why we’re here.”

Ways to support our care teams

Our care teams need and appreciate your support. Every thoughtful act, every hopeful word makes a difference. Here is where your help is needed most today:

• If you are able, make a donation to the MultiCare COVID-19 Response Fund, to help the ongoing work of our care teams.
• Join the Hope Grows Here community project and stay connected to ways to volunteer and give back. Sign up to sew masks, create artwork or send notes of gratitude and appreciation to our care teams. Follow the Hope Grows Here project on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
• Care for yourself and others. All MultiCare hospitals are open for essential care. Don’t delay medical care that could save your life or the life of a loved one. Learn more.