Partners in Care: A worthy observation

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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

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Partners in Care: A worthy observation

Joan Coffman, jcoffman@stph.org

Dear Partner in Care,

March is here, and – as it does every year – it comes with a raft of healthcare industry observations.

In addition to bringing us Certified Nurses Day (March 19) and Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 10-16), this month is also, among other things, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, it is National Kidney Month, it is National Traumatic Brain Injuries Month, National Endometriosis Awareness Month, and Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month.

The list goes on.

All are worthy observations, but one that is particularly near and dear to my heart is National Doctors Day, which is observed every year on March 30.

Conceived in 1933 as a local observation in Winder, Georgia, it became a national observation in 1990. Ever since, March 30 has been set aside as a time to reflect upon the profound impact physicians have, not just as their brothers’ keepers but in many cases as pillars of the community.

Three sterling examples: retired STQN physicians Libeau Berthelot, Gerald Foret and Mark James, who, after decades of providing quality healthcare to the people of rural Washington and St. Tammany parishes, were honored recently by Franklinton Mayor Gregory Route as Citizens of the Year in recognition of their years of service to the community.

St. Tammany Quality Network is fortunate that its ranks are filled with so many other physicians who are equally deserving of such honors. It takes a special soul to accept the responsibilities that come with being a healthcare provider, including the rigorous education standards, the stress and worries that come with the job, and the long hours and late-night phone calls that always beckon.

It is, of course, a privilege to serve one’s community as a practicing physician, but it is also an enormous sacrifice – and one for which we should all be grateful.

I know I am.

So, in recognition of Doctors Day, I offer the most sincere thanks to all of our STQN physicians, on behalf of your patients, on behalf of St. Tammany Health System and on behalf of the community.

Gratefully,

Joan M. Coffman, FACHE
President and CEO, St. Tammany Health System


Partners in Care is a message for STQN member-physicians from St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman for STQN's monthly Quality Insights newsletter. You can find the current issue of Quality Insights, as well as back issues, at STQN.org/newsletter.

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