Care is more than a service at Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority. It is a relationship built on trust, respect, and compassion. This February, CIHA is sharing a community-centered campaign that honors the everyday moments of kindness, encouragement, and support that happen throughout our hospital.
CIHA’s Guiding Principle, ᎤᏩᏒᎤᏓᏅᏖᎸ, (U wa shv u da nv te lv) “The One That Helps from the Heart, celebrates the people who make care personal. From small gestures to life-changing support, this February CIHA wants to highlight how care is given and received from the heart by employees, patients, and families alike.
Community members and patients are invited to share how a CIHA employee helped them from the heart. CIHA employees are also sharing how they bring compassion into their work each day. Participation can happen in person at any patient registration counter or through CIHA’s social media platforms. Those who prefer may submit their message digitally, and CIHA’s Public Relations team will help put those words to paper so they can be included in the display. The hearts can be anonymous or signed.
Throughout the month, stories and reflections are being shared on heart-shaped notes and brought together into a growing display inside CIHA facilities on the main campus, Tsali Care Center, and at satellite locations. Each heart represents a moment of care, a helping hand, or a quiet act of compassion. Displayed together, they form a collective picture of what makes CIHA the Provider of Choice for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
This campaign is not about recognition or accolades. It is about honoring the shared values that guide care at CIHA and acknowledging that healing often begins with human connection. As the hearts fill the display, they serve as a visible reminder of the skill and knowledge behind the care at CIHA and how it is delivered with empathy, respect, and always from the heart.