Ice Cream Sundae Bar Kicks off Hospital Week on Maui

Maui Memorial Medical Center staff scoops ice cream to prepare for the Hospital Week Sundae Station. The activity is just one of many that will take place during the week-long celebration.

The Maui Memorial Medical Center celebrates 2017 National Hospital Week, May 7-13, 2017, focusing on the theme, “The Healing Heart of Healthcare.”

“National Hospital Week, first and foremost, is a celebration of people,” said MMMC CEO Dr. Barry Shitamoto.

“We’re extremely proud of each member of our staff and we recognize the important role they play in extending a sense of trust to our patients and our communities. And we encourage everyone to extend extra thanks this week to their doctors and other friends and family who work in the healthcare industry,” he said.

MMMC CEO, Dr. Barry Shitamoto, and staff help prepare an ice cream sundae station for hospital employees on Monday as part of the National Hospital Week celebrations.

Maui Memorial Medical Center and the other Maui Region facilities will host a week-long celebration for staff which will include fun activities and contests, ice cream sundae stations and delivery for late-night shifts, and will culminate with Hawaiian food with live entertainment for employees at the end of the week.

The nation’s largest health care event, National Hospital Week dates back to 1921 when it was suggested by a magazine editor who hoped a community wide celebration would alleviate public fears about hospitals. The celebration, launched in Chicago, succeeded in promoting trust and goodwill among members of the public and eventually spread to facilities across the country.