Cancer Institute at Penn State Health - Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
September 2023
Cancer Institute
at Penn State Health - Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Penn State Health- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey
,
PA
United States
Kristin Bradford, BSN, RN
Roni Bentz BSN, CMSRN
Holly Angerett, PA-C
Janine Niehaus, BSN, RN, OCN
Megan Wheelden, MD
Grace Stauffer, RN, BSN
Jennifer Kauffman, RN, MSN, MEd, CMSRN
Evan Scally, BSN, RN
Dana Reist Custer, BSW, BSN, RN, CMGT-BC
Roni Bentz BSN, CMSRN
Holly Angerett, PA-C
Janine Niehaus, BSN, RN, OCN
Megan Wheelden, MD
Grace Stauffer, RN, BSN
Jennifer Kauffman, RN, MSN, MEd, CMSRN
Evan Scally, BSN, RN
Dana Reist Custer, BSW, BSN, RN, CMGT-BC
I am writing to you to express my gratitude for the nursing care my wife, K, received at PS Hershey Medical Center over the last 2 1/2 years. K passed away recently after a long cancer battle, but one of her final wishes was for me to write to the hospital leadership to recognize these fourteen (14) outstanding nurses who made her care a labor of love and outstanding in every regard. These nurses are, in my view, fourteen of the BEST nurses at your hospital and certainly the BEST in their respective specialties/departments. Additionally, it is my view that the BEST thing about your hospital is the incredible nursing care throughout the hospital.
K was a patient at your hospital for 31 months with a cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis. Her condition led to several complicated sub-conditions and challenges over her 31-month battle.
K was referred for a transplant to Georgetown University in an attempt to save her life, but was unable to have one due to the rapid growth of her condition. Over the 31 months, she suffered 3 brain bleeds (strokes), requiring the care of a neurosurgeon. Her condition also required her to have three biliary drains routinely changed and managed by the CVIR team every 6-8 weeks as a key part of her care plan by the CVIR team for the entire 31-month ordeal. When her condition was diagnosed as cancer, the Cancer Institute managed her care in Hematology/ Oncology and eventually transitioned to a Palliative Care doctor until she succumbed to her illness. I believe K spent some time on every floor of the hospital and nearly every inpatient ward from ICU, ER, Surgical, CVIR, et al. While the nurses on every floor were excellent, these outstanding nurses stood above their peers.
Hershey's outstanding nursing started on her first day in the ICU. This was just as COVID forced visitors out of the hospital, but "Brock" was simply amazing in supporting K and me. She knew she was in great hands with "Brock" and "Melissa" caring for her. Unfortunately, I was not able to discern their last names (because of the no-visitor policy at that time). She found an equally outstanding team with Evan Scally, Roni Bentz, and Kristin Bradford always providing the very best care. Evan, in particular·, was K's #1 GO TO nurse in the CVIR clinic. He cared for her like she was family and attended K's funeral. This team was also supported by, I believe, the best PA in the hospital, PA Holly Angerett.
In the Hematology/ Oncology clinic, Janine Niehaus was simply a God-given gift to us. She worked tirelessly, and often on off-duty time, to ensure K had the very best care as she aided Dr. Megan Wheelden. I cannot adequately express how important she was to K's care plan truly amazing. As we transitioned to Palliative care, Dana Custer filled the void we feared by leaving Janine seamlessly. She too was simply a blessing. Other notable nurses during her 31 month stays in and out of the hospital included: Maren McGinnis (4 East); Grace Stauffer, Jennifer Kaufmann, and Cheyanne Neely (5th Floor Surgical Acute Care); Kelly Damiter and Hannah Williams (7th Floor); and Tonya (unknown last name) at the Hershey Rehab Center.
I could easily write numerous pages, citing many examples, of how these professionals provided my wife the best nursing care I've ever seen. And once K realized her illness was terminal, they only raised the level of great care they provided her. It was simply amazing to watch, and for K, so meaningful to receive at such a vulnerable time.
Each of these professionals is more than a nurse - practitioner. They are truly caring and relentless advocates for their patients; and in our case especially K. It was routine for each of them to take time to come see K in another ward or clinic, or call her on a weekend or late at night just to see how she is doing. These nurses are incredibly competent, caring, and confident in their approach to nursing. All are humble, selfless servants that quickly earned K's implicit trust until the very end. Simply, she loved these nurses and it was easy to see they "loved" her too. And it was no surprise to see many of them attend K's viewing/funeral to pay their final respects to her.
As a former multiple time, Chief of Staff for several very senior Army Generals and Army installations, I understand how important it is to have superstars that lift your entire team to achieve the highest standards of excellence. In my opinion, these nurses are your superstars at Hershey Medical Center. They are simply outstanding in every aspect of their duties and equally so as the kind, caring person who cared for K. This is a rare combination of excellence that only the few (great) nurses possess, and K wanted to be sure you knew how much she cherished them.
I hope this note inspires you to recognize these superstar staff members. Please do all you can to keep each of them at the PS Hershey Medical Center. It can only serve to sustain the excellence my wife enjoyed throughout her care. Additionally, your students will benefit significantly from learning how to be GREAT nurses from these amazing examples/ teachers.
K was a patient at your hospital for 31 months with a cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis. Her condition led to several complicated sub-conditions and challenges over her 31-month battle.
K was referred for a transplant to Georgetown University in an attempt to save her life, but was unable to have one due to the rapid growth of her condition. Over the 31 months, she suffered 3 brain bleeds (strokes), requiring the care of a neurosurgeon. Her condition also required her to have three biliary drains routinely changed and managed by the CVIR team every 6-8 weeks as a key part of her care plan by the CVIR team for the entire 31-month ordeal. When her condition was diagnosed as cancer, the Cancer Institute managed her care in Hematology/ Oncology and eventually transitioned to a Palliative Care doctor until she succumbed to her illness. I believe K spent some time on every floor of the hospital and nearly every inpatient ward from ICU, ER, Surgical, CVIR, et al. While the nurses on every floor were excellent, these outstanding nurses stood above their peers.
Hershey's outstanding nursing started on her first day in the ICU. This was just as COVID forced visitors out of the hospital, but "Brock" was simply amazing in supporting K and me. She knew she was in great hands with "Brock" and "Melissa" caring for her. Unfortunately, I was not able to discern their last names (because of the no-visitor policy at that time). She found an equally outstanding team with Evan Scally, Roni Bentz, and Kristin Bradford always providing the very best care. Evan, in particular·, was K's #1 GO TO nurse in the CVIR clinic. He cared for her like she was family and attended K's funeral. This team was also supported by, I believe, the best PA in the hospital, PA Holly Angerett.
In the Hematology/ Oncology clinic, Janine Niehaus was simply a God-given gift to us. She worked tirelessly, and often on off-duty time, to ensure K had the very best care as she aided Dr. Megan Wheelden. I cannot adequately express how important she was to K's care plan truly amazing. As we transitioned to Palliative care, Dana Custer filled the void we feared by leaving Janine seamlessly. She too was simply a blessing. Other notable nurses during her 31 month stays in and out of the hospital included: Maren McGinnis (4 East); Grace Stauffer, Jennifer Kaufmann, and Cheyanne Neely (5th Floor Surgical Acute Care); Kelly Damiter and Hannah Williams (7th Floor); and Tonya (unknown last name) at the Hershey Rehab Center.
I could easily write numerous pages, citing many examples, of how these professionals provided my wife the best nursing care I've ever seen. And once K realized her illness was terminal, they only raised the level of great care they provided her. It was simply amazing to watch, and for K, so meaningful to receive at such a vulnerable time.
Each of these professionals is more than a nurse - practitioner. They are truly caring and relentless advocates for their patients; and in our case especially K. It was routine for each of them to take time to come see K in another ward or clinic, or call her on a weekend or late at night just to see how she is doing. These nurses are incredibly competent, caring, and confident in their approach to nursing. All are humble, selfless servants that quickly earned K's implicit trust until the very end. Simply, she loved these nurses and it was easy to see they "loved" her too. And it was no surprise to see many of them attend K's viewing/funeral to pay their final respects to her.
As a former multiple time, Chief of Staff for several very senior Army Generals and Army installations, I understand how important it is to have superstars that lift your entire team to achieve the highest standards of excellence. In my opinion, these nurses are your superstars at Hershey Medical Center. They are simply outstanding in every aspect of their duties and equally so as the kind, caring person who cared for K. This is a rare combination of excellence that only the few (great) nurses possess, and K wanted to be sure you knew how much she cherished them.
I hope this note inspires you to recognize these superstar staff members. Please do all you can to keep each of them at the PS Hershey Medical Center. It can only serve to sustain the excellence my wife enjoyed throughout her care. Additionally, your students will benefit significantly from learning how to be GREAT nurses from these amazing examples/ teachers.