Nominees:
Nominee: Paige Sullivan, MIC
Nominated by: Amanda Mcmullen, MIC
Why: I am nominating Paige based upon the knowledge that "above and beyond" is her every day work ethic. Recently another letter has been sent to Dr. Lewis by a patient who described Paige as "comforting, positive, and attentive." The patient expressed that she even felt as though she was"spoilied" by Paige. The patient exclaimed that this was a feeling that she has never felt from a hospital staff before. I called Paige to congratulate her on merits of the aforementioned letter, and asked, " Is this the fire truck family?" To which she replied, "No, this is another family." Earlier in the week, Paige was discharging a family and the 2 year old locked the newborn baby in that car alone. This caused great immediate distress in the mother of the newborn, but with Paige's calming presence, she reassured the mother that she would evaluate the newborn through the window until help arrives. Ultimately the fire company came and opened the car doors with an content unaware newborn inside. By the end of the event, the mother was taking pictures of Paige and the 2 year old in front of the fire truck. Paige exemplifies what a patient/family focused experience is meant to be. She focuses not only on the condition, diagnosis, and vitals, but sees the family as a whole and cares for their needs.
Nominee: Michael Lotesto, Denise Lipford, Jared Gardner, Food and Nutrition
Nominated by: Cheryl Hewlett, Infection Control
Why: Food and Nutrition Services has been struggling with their hand hygiene compliance numbers. I met with Ken Dowd and Holly Emmons to review the steps for hand hygiene related to food delivery and the numbers came back disappointing the following month. Ken and I met again, he spoke with Holly, and they once again educated their team to the practice and to the data. In our February monthly Hand Hygiene meeting the secret shoppers stated that Michael Lotesto and Jared Gardner from Food & Nutrition services were observed performing hand hygiene while delivering trays. They were performing hand hygiene exactly as it was taught to them. I thought this is great. The following week, I was coming out of my office and Denise Litford and Michael Lotesto were pushing one of the lunch carts and discussing hand hygiene so I decided to eaves drop on their conversation. What I heard was them discussing the steps to hand hygiene for food delivery and pick-up in the correct sequence and how they paid their learning forward by instructing others who were not following the proper sequence. They spoke of interventions they put in place such as keeping the alcohol gel on top of the cart and when they took their gloves off and how they no longer wear gloves to pass out trays but wash their hands before picking up a tray and after delivering one. I stopped to tell them how proud I was of them. Their comments were; everyone has to do it right, we want the department to be proud of us, we want everyone to realize that we can do this right, and it's the only way to stop the spread of germs. I stood their in awe for a moment. My vision became one of two large light bulbs glowing above their heads and I saw our MRSA numbers plummeting on the graphs. The youngest of our troops were playing a lead role in our fight against infection. They were not only doing the right thing for patient safety but they were talking about it and informing others. These three young employees were taking their learning to the next step and being role models in the fight against infection. This is the level of responsibility required to make hand hygiene a habit and not a task. This is the level of service excellence that will keep our patients safe. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of employee of the month than Michael, Jared and Denise.
Nominee: Beth Money, Cancer Program
Nominated by: Sylvia Heinze, Cancer Program
Beth has been invaluable to me in getting adjusted to my position at Union Hospital. Just last week she took on a spur of the moment ethics consults request late in the day. She approaches each situation with enthusiasm and comes along side offering help.Beth is a truly dedicated employee. I would like to state publically how much I value her contributions to me personally and Union Hospital as an Organization.
Nominee: Patricia Keene, Pediatrics
Nominated by: Arlene Bakken, Deb Martin, Cathy Hart, Respiratory Dept
We would like to nominate Patty as Employee of the Month. Patty has been so helpful to the Respiratory Care Department in recent weeks when we have had an extra large work load. We were having difficulty keeping the peds patients on schedule with their treatments. All the peds nurses have helped us, but Patty has consistently helped and has done it very graciously and with much understanding towards our department. She never complains and always shows a positive attitude that we are a team trying to care for each and every patient. Patty always has a smile and warm caring welcome to both her patients and co-workers.