Like much the rest of the world, faculty and staff members from UL Lafayette’s College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions appreciate their colleagues who are caring for – and preparing to care for – patients with COVID-19.
The college is conveying that appreciation at many hospitals, hospices and medical centers across the community and region, where it has placed signs that say "Heroes Work Here."
“Health care workers don’t have the luxury of working remotely right now. They have to leave their families to help seriously ill people. They deserve an immense amount of respect and praise for that,” said Dr. Melinda Oberleitner, dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
The morale boost hasn’t gone unnoticed, with many expressions of gratitude being posted on social media.
A post to the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions’ Facebook page from the Opelousas General Health System reads: “We couldn’t agree more. Thank you to the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions for your support.”
Oberleitner said in addition to encouraging health care workers, the signs have helped to galvanize community support for medical professionals. “We tried to put them at highly-traveled areas so they would be seen by as many people as possible,” she explained.
Signs have been placed at Hospice of Acadiana, Iberia Medical Center, Lafayette General Medical Center, Opelousas General, Our Lady of Lourdes' Regional Medical Center, Women's and Children's Hospital, University Health Center, and between Heart Hospital of Lafayette and Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital.
Photo caption: Signs like the one shown above at Lafayette General Medical Center have been placed at area hospitals by the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The signs are in place to praise health care “heroes” during the COVID-19 outbreak, and help generate community support. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette