Throughout the last two years, we have all been greatly affected by the strain of the pandemic. It has forced us to look at our professions in the healthcare field in a brand new light and tested us in ways we never could have imagined. The one nursing department that I would like to recognize for its resilience during such trying times is the Emergency Department.

This team has been able to demonstrate true teamwork, strength, and adaptability to any situation they have been presented with. They are the epitome of what Memorial Hermann’s mission represents by continuously being committed to service excellence and innovation. Throughout the many peaks of the COVID pandemic, the Emergency Room became inundated with patients in all areas of the department, including the waiting room. In order to create a solution for this issue, many members of the team (staff nurses, leadership, physicians, and senior leaders) collaborated to create additional rooms and treatment areas to accommodate the surplus of patients in our community seeking care. They are virtually the “front door” of this hospital and have been faced with the most difficult and intense aspects that this pandemic has presented us with, yet they remain positive, strong, and compassionate. The Emergency Department team deserves this award because they truly embody the essence of what Memorial Hermann stands for.