Faith Community Nurses Team at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
January 2021
Faith Community Nurses Team at
Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
Specialty Director Congregational Health Ministries
Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
Atlanta
,
GA
United States
Rebecca Heitkam, MACS, BSN, RN, RN-BC, HEC-C;
Terri Burnham, RN;
Sandra Price, RN, BSN, BSP;
Diane Atkinson, RN, BSN
Terri Burnham, RN;
Sandra Price, RN, BSN, BSP;
Diane Atkinson, RN, BSN
I am proud to support the work the Faith Community Nursing Team provides to our patients and the community. In trying to find a way to help those we serve, they have worked with patients desperately needing help navigating their illnesses and the ever-complex healthcare environment. They have grown and morphed their role over time, ensuring they deliver the best care possible.
They have called patients sometimes daily to check in, set up physician appointments, go with them to appointments, provide emotional and spiritual support, and even have gone into homes to find barriers to improving health and well-being. Through their work, they have been able to drastically reduce the number of readmissions in their initial group, making a positive impact on the lives of each of the patients they touch. This type of work is challenging, but they make it seem effortless, interacting with community providers, primary care physicians, non-profit organizations such as Mercy Care Services, social services, and specialist providers, to name a few.
They have taught diabetes prevention and well-being in the community to teach and educate high-risk communities. The expression, "It takes a village," takes on new meaning when you are talking about a Faith Community Nurse. As we transitioned into the unknown of COVID-19, they continued to work closely with patients in their original purpose. They followed all COVID patients post-discharge, facilitating the transition of care to an outpatient respiratory clinic. This team of nurses doesn’t hesitate to support the organization and the community at large. They improve lives and provide hope, a testament to their teamwork and serving our mission. I am happy to support this team for a DAISY Patient Safety Award. They, indeed, are exceptional in every aspect of the word.
They have called patients sometimes daily to check in, set up physician appointments, go with them to appointments, provide emotional and spiritual support, and even have gone into homes to find barriers to improving health and well-being. Through their work, they have been able to drastically reduce the number of readmissions in their initial group, making a positive impact on the lives of each of the patients they touch. This type of work is challenging, but they make it seem effortless, interacting with community providers, primary care physicians, non-profit organizations such as Mercy Care Services, social services, and specialist providers, to name a few.
They have taught diabetes prevention and well-being in the community to teach and educate high-risk communities. The expression, "It takes a village," takes on new meaning when you are talking about a Faith Community Nurse. As we transitioned into the unknown of COVID-19, they continued to work closely with patients in their original purpose. They followed all COVID patients post-discharge, facilitating the transition of care to an outpatient respiratory clinic. This team of nurses doesn’t hesitate to support the organization and the community at large. They improve lives and provide hope, a testament to their teamwork and serving our mission. I am happy to support this team for a DAISY Patient Safety Award. They, indeed, are exceptional in every aspect of the word.