Pete’s Perspective: Gratitude for the Opportunities Our Work Brings

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

The holiday season is a time to reflect on the many blessings we enjoy. It is a time to be grateful for the power that we have to make a positive impact on the lives of others. At Salinas Valley Health, we are fortunate for the abundance of opportunities our work brings to make a lasting difference in our community.

Our accomplishments are possible because of an incredible team that has never stopped in pursuing excellence. The year 2023 marked seven decades in our legacy of leadership. Our rebranding reflects confidence in our bright future and expands our commitment to helping our community rise in good health.

• Completing our new parking garage is adding 250 parking spaces to our medical center and providing a green power source for daily operations.
• Our partnership with Hartnell College on the recently unveiled Center for Nursing & Health Sciences is supporting local students who will serve as our future healthcare leaders.
• Staff with Veteran status now have special identification badges that spark immediate connections with patients with military service. We recognize patients who are Veterans with the display of a flag on the whiteboard in their room, which opens opportunities for dialogue.
• The Mobile Clinic expanded its access and assistance to underserved communities with in-person deliveries of top-quality fruits and vegetables to patients in the Fresh Produce Prescription Program.
• Groundbreaking medical treatments are changing lives: Salinas Valley Health was one of two medical centers in the United States that were the first to perform a revolutionary treatment for people with blocked arteries in the leg, relieving debilitating pain. A new intervention for our tiniest patients is helping premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome breathe easier.
• Virtual reality goggles are calming nerves and improving the patient experience at our Emergency Department. The staff-inspired addition of this equipment is popular with children and adults.

Innovation and inspiration are hallmarks of our work. Human connection and compassion are the foundation of all we do. Our nursing team this year once again identified new ways to bridge gaps. Launching an Emergency Nurse Residency Program supports nurses new to emergency care and helps them develop strong relationships with their colleagues. A “Quiet Menu” offers patients resources to help them rest better while at the medical center. Our inaugural read-a-thon in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit helped families develop stronger bonds with their medically fragile babies.

As we move toward the New Year, I remain very proud to have led such an extraordinary team. I am deeply grateful for their strong spirit and great hearts. They are the essence of what healthcare is all about, and they are at the heart of our every success.

While the holidays offer many reasons to celebrate, it is the daily work of our staff that helps us grow as a resource for our community. It is for that reason that I have great hope and optimism about the future of Salinas Valley Health.

My best to you this holiday season and always.

Be safe and be well.

– Pete