Today, Coliseum Health System honored the 1,391 COVID-19 patients that were admitted for inpatient care at Coliseum Medical Centers and Coliseum Northside Hospital since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coliseum Northside Hospital received the first positive COVID-19 lab result on March 21, 2020 and Coliseum Medical Centers admitted their first COVID-19 patient on March 22, 2020. 

To mark one year since the first COVID-19 patients were admitted, Coliseum Health System placed flags on the front lawns of both Coliseum Medical Centers and Coliseum Northside Hospital. The blue flags honor patients who recovered and were able to be discharged, and white flags remember the lives lost due to COVID-19. The theme of the event was “Honor. Remember. Heal.” The hospitals planned this event as a way to honor the families affected and to celebrate the amazing work the Coliseum teams continue to do each day.

Stephen J. Daugherty, Chief Executive Officer of Coliseum Health System, said, “Each of these flags represent not only a person, but an entire family, whose lives were changed forever by COVID-19. Our staff provided care for each one of these patients when they needed us the most. We were not only caregivers, we were family when their own family couldn’t be there in person. Our patients are always at the heart of all we do – and this year was no different. This year has been difficult, but I would not have gone through it with any other team. I can’t express in words the care that Coliseum Medical Centers and Coliseum Northside Hospital staff have provided over the last year.”

At today’s event, Shelly Berryhill, a COVID-19 survivor, placed flowers at the base of the flags to honor all COVID-19 survivors, and Kathy Ramey, who lost her husband to COVID-19, placed flowers to honor those who died. 

Due to COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the hospital was unable to invite all of the patients who were treated throughout this past year.  However, the public is welcome to stop by either Coliseum Medical Centers or Coliseum Northside Hospital to see the flags. The hospitals also welcome anyone who would like to place additional flowers near the flags.

To learn more about Coliseum Health System or any of the services it provides, please visit www.ColiseumHealthSystem.com or call (478) 746-4646.