HERSHEY, Pa. — In the hours before it starts, nurses and medical staff of all stripes huddle in offices and hallways across three of Penn State Health’s five acute care hospitals.
Tasks are divvied up. Logistics discussed. This event requires creativity and precision.
It's National Nurses Week and National Hospital and Health System Week, held May 6-12, and all over the Penn State Health system, doctors, nurses, phlebotomists, food service workers ― you name it ― will square off in kickball games, race three-wheeled bicycles and frolic with puppies.
But perhaps no other moment in all the hoopla will make better use of the traits the simultaneous celebrations are meant to honor ― characteristics health care professionals rely on every day. This event demands inspiration, adapting when the bottom falls out and above all ― teamwork.
This event is cake decorating.
T-minus 24 hours …
At Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center and Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, food services delivers sheet cakes to the competing artists. Nearby, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s cake-decorating contest is planned for the next day.
The desserts each team receives are decorated only with plain white icing, which will serve as canvases for each department’s creation. Teams have 24 hours to work together on their artwork.
At the same time the cakes arrive at the departments in Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers, therapy dogs are making special rounds at Hampden. Health care workers at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center are accepting prizes at an awards ceremony. Food trucks are just about to leave for the day after serving up Latin food at Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center.
“Every day, I’m humbled at how our Penn State Health family goes above and beyond to better the lives of our patients and those who live in the communities we serve. We give a large chunk of our time and our hearts to serving others,” said Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini, who, along with other leaders have been making the rounds at the hospitals. “So, it was great to see so many people participating in fun activities like cornhole, kickball, picnics and puppy-snuggling during the Nurses, Hospital and Health System week activities. I’m grateful to those who organized and participated in the many activities across our health system and made the week so special.”