It all started on Florence Nightingale’s Birthday May 12, 1921. A Chicago magazine editor declared National Hospital Day to boost trust in city hospitals in the wake of the Spanish Flu. As more states adopted the event the holiday went weeklong in 1953. As you know, National Hospital Week is about awareness. It’s a reminder of the important role hospitals play in fostering community health, giving the sick hope and bringing new lives into the world. Without hospitals in America, it’s scary to think where we’d be. During this year’s “Champions of Care” event, celebrated by hospitals nationwide May 8-14, facility organizers will be reaching out to communities with health & wellness fairs, educational events, open houses, novelties and other promotions and activities to give thanks and encourage families to use hospital facilities. For some hospital administrators, National Hospital Week signifies a "tightening up of the ship." A closer look at efficiencies and workflows, sanitation, patient safety and bedside care. It’s a time to reward top performers and send a message to nurse and referring physician communities that excellence begets recognition at your facility. Until recently, tracking workforce performance was a daunting task. Managers [+]