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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 689 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 689

   Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hospital Week, to be 
               observed from May 12 through May 18, 2024.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 15, 2024

  Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mrs. 
 Capito) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hospital Week, to be 
               observed from May 12 through May 18, 2024.

Whereas, beginning in 1921, National Hospital Day was established by former 
        President Warren G. Harding to be celebrated annually on May 12, the 
        birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, as a 
        way to honor her role in revolutionizing hospital care;
Whereas National Hospital Day was established following the Spanish Flu Outbreak 
        of 1918 as a way to build community trust in hospitals;
Whereas, beginning in 1953, National Hospital Week was established and continues 
        to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale;
Whereas National Hospital Week is a time of year to reflect on the important 
        contributions that hospitals make to provide safe, high-quality health 
        care;
Whereas, in 2024, approximately 6,120 hospitals in the United States provide 
        essential and life-saving health care every day in a variety of 
        hospitals settings, including--

    (1) 1,368 critical access hospitals, which serve as important health 
care hubs by bringing essential medical services closer to individuals who 
would otherwise have to travel long distances for health care, provide 
health care to \1/5\ of the United States population residing in rural 
areas;

    (2) nearly 1,700 teaching hospitals, of which roughly 300 are major 
teaching hospitals, such as university hospitals or academic medical 
centers, that provide essential training to future medical providers;

    (3) 659 non-Federal psychiatric hospitals that are essential partners 
in addressing mental health and substance abuse disorders across the United 
States; and

    (4) 172 Veterans Affairs medical centers that are uniquely responsible 
for providing health care to more than 9,000,000 veterans;

Whereas, in 2023, hospitals in the United States provided health care to more 
        than 33,000,000 admitted patients, provided emergency care to nearly 
        137,000,000 patients, and delivered more than 3,500,000 babies;
Whereas, in 2024, hospitals employed more than 5,486,000 individuals, including 
        physicians, registered nurses, and allied health professionals;
Whereas 45 percent of individuals employed by hospitals are non-clinical staff, 
        including sanitation workers, food service workers, and many others, who 
        work to keep hospitals open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in order to 
        ensure hospitals are always available to individuals that need health 
        care;
Whereas hospitals, through direct care and community outreach, can provide the 
        expertise and resources needed to address the unique health care needs 
        that exist in rural and urban areas of the United States; and
Whereas hospitals work collaboratively to uphold the health care system of the 
        United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Hospital 
        Week, to be observed from May 12 through May 18, 2024;
            (2) recognizes the significant role that hospitals play in 
        the delivery of health care in the United States; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        National Hospital Week with appropriate recognition, 
        ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the 
        importance of hospitals to the everyday lives of patients and 
        communities.
                                 <all>
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