While it has been a challenging year, it has also been a year of increased awareness of the critical role we all play in providing safe, high-quality, exceptional care to the patients in our facilities. Our jobs have been challenging, overwhelming, non-stop, but very rewarding. To see the impact each of you has made on the response of our profession to the COVID-19 pandemic is incredible. Thank you for all you have done this year to make our facilities nimbler, safer, and more efficient.

As we head into the final month of 2020, I am ready to put 2020 firmly in my rear-view mirror! This does not mean the challenges are over. We are all experiencing even more demands on our facilities and our staff than we thought possible. But your leadership, dedication, and experience will help your team make it through these very difficult times. With a resurge of COVID-19 in our immediate future, 2021 will not start off without a few bumps along the way, but I know each of us will make it through, and the leadership skills we have learned through NEHES education and participation will help us over those bumps, and maybe out of a few potholes also!

As I look in that rear-view mirror, the one thing I do not want to forget is the support I have received from the 2020 NEHES Board of Directors. It has been my honor and privilege to serve as President of NEHES in 2020. I want to thank all the Board Members for their service and dedication to NEHES during this past year. They have taken on each challenge to our organization and kept it strong and relevant. Thank you to our Supporting Members who work tirelessly on behalf of NEHES. Thank you to CMP Management for their incredible help with our virtual conferences and drastic changes to our educational series this year. And thank you to each member of NEHES. Without the support of our members, NEHES would not be the strong and vibrant organization it continues to be.

During the holiday season, I hope that you will take the time to be with family, even if it is only virtually. I also hope that you use this time to realize that each and every day, you make an impact that may seem to go overlooked but is reflected in each happy smile on the COVID patient who is finally able to go home to their family. And most importantly, I hope you take a moment to look at the smiles on the members of your family and remember they keep us grounded and cared for when we are facing these very difficult times.

Have a relaxing, peaceful, and joyous holiday season! Be safe, and let’s all look forward to a 2021 we hope will be a much less stressful year than 2020 has been!

Please join me in welcoming our new NEHES President, Cole Teague, in to guide us through whatever 2021 brings us!

Pete Girard, CHFM

NEHES 2020 President