America’s valiant health care workers

As Americans endure this historic time, health care workers deserve our profound gratitude for their tireless efforts in combating the coronavirus.

America’s medical professionals have formed a united front in the fight to contain the outbreak, making incredible sacrifices, saving lives and helping to heal our nation.

On the frontlines all across the country, nurses, doctors, first-responders, medical researchers and medical technicians are risking their lives to save lives.

Supporting them are armies of hardworking hospital administrators, food-service workers and cleaning personnel performing the critical task of ensuring smooth, seamless operations.

While most Americans shelter in place and practice social distancing, dedicated health care providers are at the bedsides of critically ill patients.

Nurses are an especially powerful force in the intensive-care units, comforting patients, easing their pain and consoling family members who cannot be there for their loved ones.

Medical professionals have families of their own to consider. They leave behind their spouses and children as they head out to rejoin the battle against a highly contagious, deadly disease.

The coronavirus has taken a heavy toll on health care workers. Many doctors and nurses have contracted the virus – some have died from it.

For COVID-19 patients in isolation, the faces of these courageous, compassionate caregivers are the only – and sometimes the last – faces they see.

I have had the privilege of spending most of my professional life practicing medicine as an orthopedic surgeon at the Wyoming Medical Center, in Casper, Wyo.

So I know many of these wonderful men and women working round-the-clock to keep communities in Wyoming and throughout the country safe.

One physician friend of mine in Wyoming recently told me he had taken the coronavirus test, thankfully tested negative, and was heading right back to the hospital.

The nation owes an incredible debt of gratitude to all of our health-care workers for their tremendous sacrifice.

Their efforts have saved precious lives, slowed the spread of the virus and flattened the curve so we can begin the process of gradually and safely reopening the country.

This is an incredibly proud moment for America’s medical providers.

Sen. John Barrasso is an orthopedic surgeon and chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.