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Officers' Santa with a Badge Tradition Brings Joy to Kids

2024-12-09

Every year, the small town of Martinsburg comes alive with the spirit of Christmas as the annual Santa with a Badge tradition takes center stage. Active duty officers and retirees from various law enforcement agencies gather to make the holiday dreams of children come true. This year, they returned to the familiar walls of WalMart at Spring Mills, where they have been shopping for the past four years.

The Power of Community Partnerships

Ben Holben, the secretary of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 83, couldn't be more grateful for the partnerships that make this event possible. Spring Mills Walmart has been a steadfast partner for three years now, providing a space for the children to shop and select their gifts. The Spring Mills' McDonald's also joined in, offering a delicious breakfast to each child, while Hagerstown's Krispy Kreme added a sweet touch by providing donuts. Project Linus, a long-time partner, returned for a third year, presenting a blanket to each child on the list. These partnerships truly bring the community together during the holiday season.

Law Enforcement's Heartwarming Role

Officers from both Berkeley and Jefferson County sheriff's departments, along with those from Ranson Police Department, Charles Town Police Department, Martinsburg City Police, the West Virginia State Police, and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Reserves and court bailiffs, all came out in full force. Jay Longerbeam, the current president of the FOP, was amazed by the great representation of departments. He shared, "We had a great representation of departments, and it was wonderful to see Berkeley County out this year as Sheriff Rob Blair joined us for his first time shopping. The number of Jefferson County Reserve officers who arrive each year to escort the children is truly amazing." Robbie Roberts, the Ranson Police Chief, who has participated in the program for approximately 36 years, also enjoyed escorting two families during the shopping hours. As the children tried to decide what they wanted and how far their $100 would go, it was a heartwarming sight to see the officers interacting with them.

Making Holiday Dreams Come True

Through established criteria and referrals from schools, churches, and other entities, 100 children were selected to take part in the Santa with a Badge project. These children ranged in age from infants to teens, including some siblings and single-child families. Each child was paired with an officer who helped them keep track of their spending. Of the 100 scheduled to participate, 97 arrived, ready to make their Christmas wishes come true. As the children shopped, they were filled with excitement and anticipation, knowing that they were about to receive gifts that would bring joy to their holiday season.

Funding the Holiday Magic

Longerbeam and Holben emphasized the importance of funding to continue this beloved program. They work hard to raise approximately $10,000 each year to select 100 children. Their main fundraising method is through telephone solicitation, but they are also open to direct donations. Donors can visit the FOP website at FOP83.org and click on the link to donate via Paypal. Checks can also be mailed to FOP Lodge 83 at P.O. Box 2694, Martinsburg, WV 25402. While they hope to one day have a Lodge home for trainings and other meetings, the Santa with a Badge program remains their top priority.

Cybersecurity in healthcare is of utmost importance as it directly impacts the safety of patients. Hospitals face significant challenges when it comes to data breaches, which can have severe consequences on life-saving treatments and vital care. In this article, we will explore the various aspects of cybersecurity in healthcare and the need for targeted legislation and government support.

Empowering Healthcare with Robust Cybersecurity

Why Cybersecurity is Essential in Healthcare

Electronic health records, medical imaging tools, and other digital systems in healthcare create a vast digital landscape. However, the cybersecurity measures to protect this infrastructure have not kept pace with its rapid growth. Healthcare data is a valuable target for attackers, as medical records contain sensitive protected health information. Cyberattacks can lead to diagnosis delays, stalled prescriptions, and financial crises for hospitals. The infamous Change Healthcare breach is a prime example of how a single point of failure can impact multiple facilities and patient care.

Healthcare's sprawling infrastructure makes it an attractive target for cybercriminals. The need for comprehensive protection is a persistent challenge, especially for smaller providers in rural or underserved regions with limited budgets and outdated infrastructure.

Healthcare Challenges Posed by Cyber Inequity

Larger healthcare systems in densely populated areas have more resources to invest in cybersecurity. However, most healthcare organizations, including the largest ones, are understaffed and lagging behind in digital transformation. Smaller hospitals often have to prioritize immediate patient care over cybersecurity due to budget constraints. Staffing IT talent is also a challenge, as many hospitals cannot afford specialized cybersecurity professionals.

A cyberattack on a rural hospital can have a magnified impact, leaving patients with no other options for immediate care. The shortage of cybersecurity resources in rural hospitals is not just a logistical issue but a matter of equity, which can lead to disparities in patient safety and care quality.

The Case for More Government Support

The healthcare industry cannot handle cybersecurity alone. Unfunded mandates can overwhelm small providers. A cybersecurity framework tailored to healthcare, such as the one by the Health Sector Coordinating Council, is needed. Government support in the form of incentives and access to cybersecurity insurance can help hospitals invest in their security infrastructure without financial strain.

Smart cyber policy is crucial, including implementing passwordless authentication to reduce credential theft and managing vendor access securely. Collaboration between healthcare leaders and vendors is also essential in developing innovative solutions.

Dr. Sean Kelly is the Chief Medical Officer and Sr. VP of Customer Strategy for Healthcare at Imprivata. He leads the Clinical Workflow team and advises on healthcare IT security. Trained at Harvard College, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Vanderbilt University, he is board certified in Emergency Medicine and a Fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians.This post appears through the MedCity Influencers program. Anyone can publish their perspective on business and innovation in healthcare on MedCity News through MedCity Influencers. Click here to find out how.

Our nation currently finds itself at a crucial crossroads. The persistent shortage of healthcare workers has placed an immense strain on our healthcare system, especially when patients' demand for care is on the rise. It is essential that we address this issue promptly to ensure the well-being of our citizens.

Bridging the Gap - Prioritizing Healthcare Education

Healthcare Workforce Shortage: A Growing Concern

Our nation is facing a critical situation where the healthcare workforce shortage shows no signs of abating. This shortage not only stretches our healthcare system to its limits but also poses significant challenges for patients seeking timely and quality care. With over 193,000 projected job openings for registered nurses annually until 2032 and 85% of healthcare facilities experiencing a shortage of allied health professionals, it is clear that we are in dire need of a solution. The lack of qualified nurses and allied health professionals is contributing to various issues such as provider burnout, staff attrition, practice closures, reduced services, and longer wait times for patients across different healthcare settings. As the population ages and becomes sicker, with more complex needs, the need for a multifaceted approach to attract and educate the next generation of healthcare professionals becomes even more urgent.

It is crucial that we take immediate steps to address this shortage. By investing in healthcare education and providing the necessary resources, we can create a robust workforce that will ensure continued access to high-quality care for all.

Technology's Role in Healthcare Education

Education technology holds tremendous potential in supporting students' academic success and maximizing faculty effectiveness and efficiency. By mimicking real-life clinical scenarios, these tools allow students to learn from their mistakes, build problem-solving skills, and develop clinical judgment skills - essential for safe practice. Personalized learning experiences ensure that every student reaches their full potential.

Congress can play a vital role by passing outcomes-based legislation that provides dedicated resources for nursing programs, career and technical education (CTE) programs, and direct workforce training programs. This will help students excel in their classes, graduate, and pass their exams, enabling them to enter the workforce practice-ready in various healthcare roles.

Supporting Healthcare Educators

In addition to students, Congress should prioritize funding for programs that train, retain, and better support healthcare educators. Investing in technology such as AI tools can streamline and lessen educators' workload, which is crucial given the faculty shortage. Last year alone, over 65,000 qualified applications were turned away from nursing programs due to a shortage of faculty. With 71% of CTE program directors reporting that the shortage of health sciences teachers and high faculty turnover is causing a net reduction in the number of students, it is clear that we need to grow the capacity of schools.

By providing the necessary support to healthcare educators, we can ensure that every interested, passionate, and qualified student can pursue their healthcare career dreams and contribute to the improvement of our healthcare system.

Bipartisan Bills for Healthcare Education

Several bipartisan bills are currently being considered that could have a significant impact on healthcare education. The Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act (S.2840) aims to invest in training for new nurses and community health workers. The Train More Nurses Act (S.2853/H.R.6122) would expand nursing school enrollment capacity. The PRECEPT Nurses Act (S.1627) seeks to increase the number of clinical preceptors essential for guiding nursing students through practical training. The Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (S.2815/H.R.7002) would provide incentives to recruit and retain nursing faculty. The Grants for Resources in Occupational Workforce Training for Healthcare (GROWTH) Act (H.R.6078) would expand and prioritize grant funding for community colleges.

These bills, along with others like the Healthcare Workforce Innovation Act (S.4957), the Allied Health Opportunity Act (S.2304), and the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act (H.R.6585), would broaden opportunities for students to enter critical allied health roles. It is essential that Congress passes these bills during the lame-duck period to shape and strengthen the future of our healthcare workforce.

We strongly urge Congress to take action and prioritize healthcare education. By doing so, we can build a more resilient healthcare system that meets the needs of our nation and its people.