Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Kentucky
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By Joseph W. Taylor, President
As this will be my final newsletter message to you all as your President, please permit me to digress somewhat from “normal.” After all, nothing about 2020 has really been normal, has it?
I have been blessed to be able to serve such an amazing group of healthcare facility CAREGIVERS as all of you. You have stood up straight and tall and brave in the face of a pandemic unmatched in ferocity in more than 100 years. You have found ways to take care of your clinical teams and facilities teammates at work, when all the while you also had to manage the daily fear and anxiety of trying to protect the people you love the most at home. You have consistently shown up for work, even as some of you have lost friends and family to an invisible enemy. You fabricated supplies and equipment when there wasn’t any to be purchased. You have shown up, and as a result you have saved lives. You are all caregivers too! Now, at least three vaccines are ready for distribution, and you will play an important part in making this happen quickly and safely. The end of this chapter is in sight.
I want to say a big thank you to the KSHE 2019-2020 Board. How easy it would have been this year to say “Joe, I don’t have time to be involved with KSHE. I’m too busy here at my own facility. You understand don’t you?” You know, that never happened. Every one of you just dug in harder; took care of business at work and at home, and STILL showed up for every meeting, every special event, every “emergency” phone conference. That’s why – once again – we are an ASHE Platinum Elite Chapter; even during the pandemic. Who would have thought that in a matter of weeks we could have pivoted from an historically successful face-to-face annual Healthcare Coalition Conference to a first of its kind, inaugural virtual conference? Let me share some of the results:
- Over 400 attendees at this year’s event (compared to fewer than 200 attendees at our virtual events)
- Registration fee reduced to $25 for KSHE members (compared to $225 for our face-to-face events)
- 27 Sponsors, including 4 Platinum, 1 Presidential, and 6 Gold Level partners (39 sponsors face-to-face in 2019)
- 30 educational sessions, with nationally recognized speakers, all available for download for months following the event
- Networking events that included a Trivia Night and a Bourbon Tasting Event
Our Membership Committee under the leadership of Andy Woommavovah grew regular membership and Associate membership, by a whopping 39% over 2019 levels. AMAZING! Thanks, Membership Committee.
Our Education leaders put together six pandemic related webinars and one regional event in addition to growing Safe Day One above targeted levels, plus the usual three Certified Healthcare Contractor trainings – which for the first time ever went fully virtual in 2020. Thank you Mike Canales and Education Team.
Our Sustainability leaders once again expanded statewide participation in the Energy to Care Chapter Challenge AND began offering a new, FREE Facility Energy Evaluation/Assessment to member facilities. Thank you, Spencer Hammond and Christy Fetsch.
Special thanks to Martin Wheatley, President Elect, and Matt Snow, Finance VP, for all your behind-the-scenes leadership and out-in-front commitment. Your advice and counsel were essential to KSHE’s 2020 success.
I also want to thank our KSHE Board Liaison leaders, Christy Fetch, Alan Laughlin, Charles Haskins, Pam Kirchem, and Julia Frith. You all set a pretty high bar for active involvement this year. Thank you.
Finally, I want to encourage our newly elected 2021-22 KSHE Board members, Kurt Gessner, Ron Henley, and David Hinkle. I can’t wait to see you all elevate the standard of excellence set by the outgoing Board.
2020 has been INSANE! Perhaps…hopefully, 2021 will see the healing of our nation and the beginning of the end for this virus. But as I said earlier in this message, 2020 has been just one chapter. 2021 brings us fresh opportunities to serve; to heal; and to care for each other. Let’s not waste it.
Please accept my sincere wishes that you have a blessed, happy and restorative holiday season.
Merry Christmas,
Joseph W. Taylor, President
Kentucky Society of Healthcare Engineers
