Norwood Hospital Asks Local Businesses, Patients and Residents to Join in Hanging Lights at Home to Brighten Workers’ Spirits 

NORWOOD, MA – Norwood Hospital, a Steward Family hospital, today announced the launch of its “Shine on Health Care Heroes” campaign, an effort to enlist patients, residents, and local business partners in applauding health care workers both in Norwood and across the country from the safety of their homes. Norwood Hospital is asking community members to hang lights outside their home as part of Steward Health Care’s national effort to thank health care workers and support doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who have continued to show incredible bravery during this time of uncertainty and distress. 

“The spread of COVID-19 has caused anxiety both around the world and here in Norwood, touching each of us and upending the way we live,” said Salvatore Perla, DrPH, President, Norwood Hospital. “While most shelter at home with their families, health care workers continue to bravely risk their own health and safety to ensure residents have access to the highest-quality care. Our hope is that seeing lights throughout our community will uplift and brighten frontline medical workers’ spirits and show them just how much we appreciate them and are thinking about them during this time.” 

“As a national health care company, Steward has a unique opportunity to champion action at this unprecedented and challenging moment,” said Dr. Joseph Weinstein, Chief Medical Officer for Steward Health Care, the nation’s largest private, tax-paying, physician-led health care network. “We wanted to show the entire health care community, both within Steward and beyond, that we are here to support them, while also involving Americans who are eager to help and share their own gratitude.” 

In addition to hanging lights outside their homes, members of the community are encouraged to share messages of love and appreciation on social media using the hashtag #ShineOnHealthCareHeroes. Norwood Hospital will work to partner with local businesses to amplify the campaign in weeks and months ahead.   

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About Steward Health Care System
Steward Health Care is the largest private, tax-paying physician-led health care network in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Steward operates 35 hospitals in the United States and the country of Malta that regularly receive top awards for quality and safety. The company employs approximately 42,000 health care professionals. The Steward network includes multiple urgent care centers and skilled nursing facilities, substantial behavioral health services, over 7,900 beds under management, and approximately 2.2 million full risk covered lives through the company's managed care and health insurance services. The Steward Health Care Network includes 5,000 physicians across 800 communities who help to provide more than 12 million patient encounters per year. Steward Medical Group, the company's employed physician group, provides more than six million patient encounters per year. The Steward Hospital Group operates hospitals in Malta and nine states across the U.S., including Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.