We would like you to be aware of the excellent, above and beyond care that Emily Pechous provided for my brother during his stay at Monument Health this past week. Unfortunately, due to multiple health issues, he passed away. Because I live in Sioux Falls, I was only able to spend two days with him at the hospital and then needed to return home for my wife’s knee surgery. Your entire nursing staff was excellent. The decision was made to honor my brother’s DNR. Emily was kind enough to arrange a prayer service with the hospital chaplain for my brother, including our three sisters and me via conference call. During this time, we were able to pray and say our goodbyes to him and offer comfort as well since we were unable to be present. Emily called me after he passed and let me know that he was kept comfortable and that she and the chaplain had stayed with him during this time. We feel that Emily went beyond her nursing duties to comfort not only the patient but his siblings during this heartbreaking event. She is a great example of humanity and compassion and represents Monument Health as a first-class facility.

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I worked closely with Emily last weekend in support of family and a patient as that person chose to allow a natural death and receive comfort care in our facility. To the patient's great good fortune, Emily was providing care. I observed her over the course of several hours, and I must say that her exceptional, professional, elite-level clinical practice was matched by an amazing attentiveness to the patient in the moment, to the likely experience of the patient once unresponsive, to the continued functioning of the unit as a whole, to gracious and compassionate communication with the family who could not visit due to circumstance and location, and yet seemed completely effortless for her!  Emily is a rock star! Thanks for fostering and developing that kind of individual as part of that kind of team for the sake of those we serve as Monument Health!