{"id":30946,"date":"2020-04-14T16:01:06","date_gmt":"2020-04-14T22:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=30946"},"modified":"2021-03-30T11:59:45","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T17:59:45","slug":"colorado-thanks-uchealth-health-care-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/colorado-thanks-uchealth-health-care-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado thanks UCHealth health care workers"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"three
Each Friday, cars with hazard lights flashing fill the now-empty visitor parking lot at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital. Community supporters say prayers and hold signs in support of UCHealth. Photo: Kati Blocker, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Across the globe<\/a>, appreciation shown for health care workers and their efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic has been awe inspiring.<\/p>\n

In Colorado, the wave of support is buoying caregivers as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have really felt the love from you guys,\u201d said RN Daphne Huegerich, a nurse manager in the emergency room at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies<\/a> in Loveland.<\/p>\n

\"health
Two nurses in PPEs wave to the parade of emergency responders who visited UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies Monday night to show their support for health care workers in Colorado. Photo: Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe social distancing<\/a> that is occurring, we want to let you know it is helping, and we appreciate all of you\u2026 So, thank you for all that you are doing,\u201d Huegerich said.<\/p>\n

Support has come in the form of thank-you notes \u2014 nearly 2,000 and counting \u2014 to UCHealth\u2019s employees. (Want to send thanks to health care workers? Click here.<\/a>) We’ve also felt your quiet prayers and heard your thundering standing ovations and the\u00a0volume of donations (Learn more about donating<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Most recently, 10 northern Colorado emergency services agencies lined up in emergency vehicles with lights flashing and paraded on the campus of Medical Center of the Rockies.<\/p>\n

\"health
UCHealth staff came out to watch a parade – which involved emergency services from 10 area agencies – at Medical Center of the Rockies. Parades are one of the ways Colorado is saying thanks to its health care workers. Photo: Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cFor us, it is to show our appreciation for the hard work that the health care workers are putting in right now,\u201d said Greg Ward, Operations Chief of the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority. \u201cHopefully, it put a little smile on their faces and let them know that we are behind them and doing everything we can to support them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Health
Nurses at Medical Center of the Rockies say thanks to the agencies that paraded through their campus to show appreciation for health care workers. Photo: Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among those represented in the northern Colorado thank-you parade were Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, Berthoud Fire District, Greeley Fire Department, Front Range Fire Rescue, Windsor-Severance Fire Rescue, Thompson Valley EMS, Loveland Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, and Larimer County Sheriff\u2019s Department.<\/p>\n

Officials with the Poudre Fire Authority have been holding their own appreciation events. Almost daily since April 8, they have paraded outside UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital and other community hospitals to honor\u00a0care workers.<\/p>\n

\u201cStanding alongside our partners in law enforcement, neighborhood services, EMS responders, and the community, we just wanted to say thank you to our health care partners who are giving their all to touch and save the lives of those infected with this terrible disease,\u201d said Poudre Fire Authority Fire Chief Tom DeMint. \u201c<\/strong>For our men and women, this is a small gesture of gratitude in recognition of their service.\u201d<\/p>\n

And then there are the Friday folks. Each Friday, a group of cars with their hazard lights flashing fill the\u00a0visitor parking lot at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital<\/a>. Many of the cars\u2019 occupants pray; others hold signs of appreciation.<\/p>\n

The show of gratitude started with a text message from Pat Marotta of Fort Collins to a few friends. She asked\u00a0if they\u2019d help her rally to show support for health care heroes and their fight against COVID-19. The word spread, and on the first Friday evening, about 40 vehicles arrived to show solidarity.<\/p>\n

\n

For all updates and to read more articles about the new coronavirus, please visit uchealth.org\/covid19<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

There have been many more such acts witnessed at area hospitals. One of the most popular has been the chalk art filling sidewalks and pathways around hospitals. The messages offer hope, strength and support.<\/p>\n

Before the stay-at-home orders were in place, a group of clowns danced with signs in front of the ER windows at Poudre Valley Hospital.<\/p>\n