Home Depot Donates Healing Garden to Suburban Community Hospital
East Norriton, PA (June 28, 2021) – Employees at Suburban Community Hospital received a healing garden donation courtesy of Home Depot, in West Norriton, PA.
When the donation arrived, Home Depot employees began unloading the plants, flowers, benches, and bird feeders to the Hospitals landscape. Brian Rogers, plant operations manager of Suburban Community Hospital, said, “Our employees started pouring out of the building, showing their appreciation for their heartwarming donation that the hospital received. It was a humbling experience for us to see our employees smile after the year we have gone through with the pandemic.”
Dorothy Patzek, chief operations officer of Suburban Community Hospital, added “This has been a tough year for our employees and local community members, who now have a place to de-stress thanks to the generosity of The Home Depot donation.”
During the height of the pandemic, more than 2,3571 Montgomery County residents tested positive for COVID-19, and many lost their lives. At that time, Suburban Community Hospital and Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force (SEPA) partnered on a temporary 40-bed unit in preparation for a potential future surge of COVID-19 patients.
When the challenges of the pandemic hit the Montgomery County communities, Suburban Community Hospital rose to the occasion. Now, as the Montgomery County community begins to look toward fully reopening, the staff remains hopeful for brighter days.
The healing garden is the perfect gift to combat stress from the pandemic. The benches, flowers, and landscaping will provide doctors, nurses, staff, patients, and community members a quiet space for reflection.
Rogers added, “Plants are life-giving and are a welcomed donation regardless of the circumstances, and plants help create a healthy environment and positive outlook.”
The newly-donated space serves as a tranquil place year-round, where employees, patients, visitors, and community members can come to be strengthened, seek courage, and find peace. The outdoor healing gardens are open to patients and visitors during visiting hours.
Patzek added, “Our employees and patients will find the healing gardens a peaceful, quiet place to reflect. We thank The Home Depot for taking the time to build such a special place for our patients, visitors, employees, and community.”
Research has shown that healing gardens can have a therapeutic effect on patients with serious illnesses. They can improve a person’s well-being by providing a place of refuge and a relaxing atmosphere that promotes healing. Spending time in a healing garden is thought to reduce stress levels, anxiety, and blood pressure. It’s also a place to bring, employees, families, and visitors together in a pleasant and home-like environment.
The healing garden is located by the path leading up to the hospital, overlooking the courtyard across from outpatient registration. There is a lush display of flowers and plants, along with benches and a bird feeder.
“We encourage our staff to take a step outside, walk the garden, and refresh,” said David Schmidt, chief nursing officer of Suburban Community Hospital. “Our employees, patients, and community members have been through so much this year from the pandemic, and The Home Depot giving back to the Community means the world to us.”
Story posted in the Times Herald: https://www.timesherald.com/the-home-depot-donates-healing-garden-to-suburban-community-hospital/article_2fc796e4-d8f9-11eb-afc8-7b4c5e0bf9da.html
About Suburban Community Hospital – Suburban Community Hospital is a not-for-profit, acute care hospital, and a member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. For over 65 years, Suburban Community Hospital has been delivering quality healthcare to Montgomery County and the surrounding region. Suburban Community Hospital, originally named Riverview Hospital, opened in 1944. Chartered at 740 Sandy Street in Norristown, PA, Riverview Osteopathic Hospital would provide medical and surgical services to the sick, afflicted and injured, and would educate persons in the care and nursing. As part of Prime Healthcare Services, headquartered in Ontario, California, Suburban Community Hospital is focused on becoming one of the leaders in technology.
Prime Healthcare is an award-winning hospital management company operating 45 acute care hospitals in 14 states, including Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, Lower Bucks Hospital in Bucks County, and Suburban Community Hospital in Montgomery County.
About Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation: Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 45 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states, providing over 2.6 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation’s leading health systems with nearly 50,000 employees and physicians dedicated to providing the highest quality healthcare. Fourteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Based in Ontario, California, Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a Top 10 and Top 15 Health System by IBM Watson Health. Its hospitals have been named among the nation’s “100 Top Hospitals” 58 times and have received more Patient Safety Excellence Awards from Healthgrades than any other health system in the past six years. To learn more, please visit www.primehealthcare.com