Bill Pascrell: “this is National Hospital Week, when communities all across America honor the individuals that make hospitals the…”

“this is National Hospital Week, when communities all across America honor the individuals that make hospitals the foundations of our community. This year's theme sums it up very nicely: ``Touching the Future With Care.'' It recognizes the health care workers, volunteers, and other health professionals who are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, curing and caring. An example of this dedication is the Caritas Connection at St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic, New Jersey. The program won the American Hospital Association's prestigious NOVA Award, which recognizes hospitals' innovative and collaborative efforts to improve the health of their communities. The Caritas Connection is a collaborative project created by St. Mary's Hospital and the Sisters of Charity to focus on the needs of a large urban immigrant population. The majority of the resident workers are in factories with low pay, long hours, and no benefits of job security. It is this type of partnership that lifts us, and I felt it fitting during National Hospital Week to bring this success to the attention of my colleagues.”