[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3718-S3719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 689--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
     HOSPITAL WEEK, TO BE OBSERVED FROM MAY 12 THROUGH MAY 18, 2024

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

                              S. Res. 689

       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

[[Page S3719]]

     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.

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