SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Regional West Medical Center will join hospitals throughout the country in celebrating 2015 National Hospital Week, May 10 to 16. The theme this year is, “Where Miracles Happen Every Day.”

The nation’s largest health care event, National Hospital Week celebrates hospitals and the men and women who support the health of their communities through dedication and compassionate care. It also recognizes the miracles they help to make happen on a day to day basis, both large and small.

“National Hospital Week is a celebration of people,” said John Mentgen, president and CEO of Regional West Health Services. “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. Our providers and staff concentrate on making a difference in the lives of the patients we are privileged to serve. The care they provide is exceptional.”

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 in the wake of the “Spanish flu” outbreak, which killed more than 600,000 Americans. The celebration succeeded in promoting trust and goodwill among members of the public and eventually spread to facilities across the country.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 182-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.