I thought about doing my usual year-end, cutesy Christmas poem where I roast a few industry leaders and friends, but somehow I just didn’t think it was appropriate this year. Maybe next year.
Even though census and operating performance improved this year compared with 2020, it is still not enough. And then we had to end the year with the rising Omicron variant. No shutdowns here yet, and I don’t really see that happening since those who have been vaccinated have had mild symptoms to date. But it is just one more strain on an already over-worked health system that we did not need.
In the aftermath of the Great Recession, all we heard was how resilient our industry was during that financial crisis. Obviously, this pandemic tested our industry like never before, and even though performance suffered, the resilience and bounce back this year was impressive. No one gave up, and investors are still lining up with plenty of funding. In hindsight, the Great Recession was more like a bump in the road.
As many of you know, for me personally, 2021 was a tough year, and I will be glad to put it behind me. And I know I am not alone in that sentiment. So, let’s look forward to a healthy and prosperous New Year, and I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas. See you next year.
