POCATELLO — A local nursing home recently gifted employees thousands of dollars in athletic shoes and backpacks in honor of healthcare workers.
Pocatello’s Gateway Transitional Care Center held a barbecue on Friday, May 19, presenting approximately 170 sports apparel items valued at over $15,000. Executive Director Gavin Montez said it was only natural for health workers to receive such recognition after spending three years “going to war on the front lines” of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These incredible healthcare workers have been on the front lines of COVID-19 and overcame some of the toughest conditions and regulations since this pandemic began,” said Montez. “They have worked on the front lines with genuine grit and determination to care for these patients in our building.”
The Gateway Transitional Care Center is a temporary residence for patients undergoing necessary medical rehabilitation. The barbecue coincided with National Caregiver Skills Week and all employees gathered in Gateway’s courtyard to celebrate.
Healthcare workers had a choice as to what exercise equipment they received. The choice was either Under Armor running shoes or a Nike backpack. Gateway partnered with his BSN SPORTS to provide this sports his apparel to Gateway healthcare workers.
Trying to describe what it’s like for healthcare workers to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, Montez said it was an “unimaginable situation.”
“It was a war zone,” Montez said. “We have legitimically waged war on the pandemic. There have been some really tough times with nurses and CNAs working hours and hours and me and some of my leadership team sleeping in the building. bottom.”
Brooke Bert, assistant director of nursing, said the pandemic was an “all-out” situation.
“It tested our ability to do a lot,” Bart said.
Bart said everyone worked together and worked hard to care for patients during the pandemic, but he didn’t realize it at the time, but no one spoke to him during that time. She said this was “unheard of” before the pandemic.
Bart said he thinks that while going through the pandemic, people didn’t realize how hard it was until the worst was over. She said it was the need to care for the patient that allowed them to get through that period.
“We did it,” said Bert. “So we didn’t break.”
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