Scott joined the Haven as the Director of Nursing in January 2016. Since that time, Scott's focus has been on continuing the excellent reputation of care the Haven has offered to the Pensacola community since it began offering care by the Carmelite Sisters in 1939.
This journey has not been an easy task as long term care has had comprehensive revisions to federal regulations for the first time since 1991! Yet with his extensive experience, calm demeanor, and the help of his established Nurse Leadership Council team of nursing professionals, Scott helped prepare and situate the Haven well into a new phase of care even during constant regulatory and economic challenges, with a stronger focus on quality patient care, and a goal of improving the resident experience, as evidenced by two deficiency-free surveys in his first two years at the facility.
Scott is a leader who is a role model for compassionate and exemplary practice. If ever there was a time that tested one's calling to a profession, that time would be now. The year 2020 has been an incredible challenge for the medical community, but it has been especially stressful and demanding for those working in long term care.
As a leader, you must be committed to your passion and purpose, and have the personal commitment that turns into perseverance. Scott is one who has that perseverance. Not only is he a resident advocate, but he continues to show up and return each day because he believes in the residents that he serves. This is evidenced by the fact that since April of this year, Scott has successfully managed nine regulatory agency visits to the facility. Two of those visits were conducted on holidays: Memorial Day and July 4th. This is on top of the daily and weekly regulatory calls that have also been ongoing.
Yet through his unwavering dedication and commitment, Scott has demonstrated that keeping residents safe while continuing to meet the never-ending, ever-changing regulatory requirements while compassionately caring for those who rely on you during this unprecedented time is non-negotiable. This pandemic has posed unique challenges to our health care system, unlike any other crisis any of us has ever seen in our lifetime and pray we will never see again.
We, at The Haven, are very fortunate to be working with a strong and dedicated Director of Nursing like Scott, and I am honored to say that I know that I couldn't do this without him and I wouldn't even want to try. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do.