b'CONCORD HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT | OUR PEOPLE ~ OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE 15Working longer hours and filling different roles during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic left Concord Hospital employees exhaustedmentally and physically. Some retired, took different jobs, re-located or sought different work conditions, just as the Hospital saw a major increase in patients in 2021. Our staff is ourThe last year has been unprecedented from a workforce most valuableperspective, said Patrick Boyle, Concord Hospital Chief Human resource and, inResources Officer. Our Most Valuable Resource these times whenStaff were furloughed when the Hospital suspended some services during COVID-19 and Our People staffing shortagesreturned as services resumed, only to confront the late-2020 COVID-19 surge. Then, as the number of are occurringpatients increased dramatically, the number of staff fell. There has been a rapid surge in demand for workers, period, across all here and aroundindustries, Boyle said. We are competing with all other industries for talent for a lot of entry-level positions. People are receiving competitive the nation, whatcounteroffers at other places.we do to keep staff healthy, engaged and moving forward is important to the care our community receives.In response, the Hospital rapidly implemented a comprehensive series of short-term and long-term solutions that improved compensation, focused on employee wellness, enhanced recruitment and revamped care models ^ to support and retain current employees. PATRICK BOYLE The Hospital restructured compensation and increased pay in many areas, affecting more than 2,000 employees. It also consolidated care teams so CONCORD HOSPITALthey can better support each other and hired a pool of nurses who are CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICERassigned to assist different departments, as needed.'