Dear CareerSTAT Network,

When I assumed the role of chair of the CareerSTAT executive committee on April 1, I never imaged we would be in the midst of the biggest healthcare crisis our industry has seen in a century. But this COVID-19 situation is not just impacting our industry, it is fundamentally changing our communities and how we live our lives. It is also shining a light on our collective understanding of who is an essential worker during a pandemic.

Those of us in healthcare understand that it takes an entire team to deliver the best care for our patients—yes, doctors and nurses, but so many others who facilitate caregiving and are putting their lives at risk during this time.

Investing in these workers and their careers has always been the mission of CareerSTAT. That hasn’t changed during this crisis, and it won’t change during the long and challenging recovery ahead. In fact, our industry is presented with a rare opportunity to shape and influence an equitable recovery where all workers, employers, and communities are thriving and prosperous.

We hope this network continues to serve as a resource as you adapt and learn in response to changing conditions and a new economic landscape. Now is the time to leverage the expertise of this peer network to identify and lift up what’s working.

Understanding how our colleagues are solving unprecedented challenges will help CareerSTAT better support members now and into the future. I encourage you to share helpful practices, resources, or tools that might help others navigate this crisis.

And for your colleagues in healthcare who aren’t yet in our network, invite them to join CareerSTAT. It’s free and open to anyone.

On behalf of the entire CareerSTAT Executive Committee and our team at the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, thank you for the work you are doing to support and protect frontline healthcare workers.

Stay safe,

Joyce McDanel, FACHE, SPHR

Chair, CareerSTAT Executive Committee