The Roy L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas and the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center on St. John are hosting various activities to mark National Hospitals Week and National Nurses Week, both being observed May 7-13.
The theme for the local observances is "Touching the Future with Care."
Activities throughout the week will include a religious program, an open house, employee recognition for years of service, a fashion show and auction and a dinner dance. While most of the observances focus on employees and their families, all are open to the public.
The first event will be a religious service on Monday at 10 a.m. in the Schneider Hospital lobby.
On Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the lobby will be the scene of an "open house" featuring exhibits of laboratory services and other aspects of health care.
On Wednesday at 10 a.m., the hospital's first-ever ceremony to recognize employees of long standing will be held. Certificates will be presented to those with 30, 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 years of service. The program will also include announcement of the employee of the year, supervisor of the year, physician of the year and nurse of the year. In addition, certificates will be presented to graduates of the hospital's recent customer service relations course who were not on duty on the day that presentations were first made. All of those employees recognized this day will be treated to lunch.
Friday evening will bring an event for nurses — a cocktail sip, fashion show and auction at Palms Court Harbourview Hotel, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The week's observances will conclude on Saturday with a dinner dance, also at Palm Courts Harbourview, honoring the four employees of the year. It will feature music by the Starlites and a silent auction of jewelry and weekend getaways. Tickets are $25.
On St. John, Keating Clinic administrator Erica McDonald said special in-house events are planned throughout Thursday. They include recognition of staff members with long years of service, honoring an employee about to retire, announcing the employee of the year and a luncheon for employees. While no formal "open house" is planned, McDonald said, "This would be a good day for people who haven't been to see the clinic before to stop by."
For more information, call the Schneider Hospital at 776-8311, ext. 2273, or the Keating clinic at 693-8900.
