June 2021 Honoree
Mease Countryside Hospital Shaffer 3 North
William (Clay) Abell, RN • Savannah Albright, PCT • Melody Alcantara, RN (transfer) • Barbara Allen, PCT • Julie Allen, RN • MacKenzie, Barnett, PCT • Marissa Amos, PST • Maria, Baklessis PCT (transfer) • Cesar Balan, RN • Michael Banks, RN • Tina Barabba, PST • Jennifer Barra, PCT • Sherri Beeghly, RN • Samuel Benedict, PCT • Michael Billiris, RN • Kelsey Bryant, RN • Selena Charles, PCT • Aaron Conklin, RN • Marie Conroy, LPN • Charity Cook, RN • Ashley Crawford, PST • David Deleeuw, RN • Katie Dillon MSN/MHA, RN • Maria Distefano, UST • Colleen Easterbrooks RN • Linda Edwards, APCL, RN • Allison Eggert, RN • Nicole Fiorino, RN • Dawn Gaither, RN • Leandzey Garcia, RN • Dharyl Garibay RN • Brenda Geraldo RN • Melanie Giardini, RN (transfer) • Janel Gleason, RN • Stuart Huffman, RN • Danielle Goodrich, PCT • McKenna Graham RN • Linda Gregory, UST • Meghan Guarino, RN • Matre’ Gulley, PCT (transfer) • Gabriella Haimes, RN • Laura Hannapel, RN • Elicia Heath, PCT (transfer) • Heather Hinchy, PST • Bethanie Kay, RN • Padmini Kissoon, PST • Breanna Koepke, PCT • Beatriz Lewis, RN • Gizela Llaguno, RN (transfer) • Alicia Maddex, RN • Alana Mahoney, RN • Robert Nagy, RN • Gina McCabe, RN (transfer) • Janet Mkongo, RN • Geisha Morales-Cruz, PST • Lori Morrison, RN • Liz Nieves, PCT • Diana Nolasco, RN • Christina Papadopoulos, RN • Sara Parkes, PST • Yeney Pena, PCT • Maria Penalosa, PCT • Jodi Penu, ANM, RN • Inaria Powers, APCL, RN • Ivan Manjarres, RN • Janelle Pulido, RN • Ayanna Reeder, PST • Natasha Rivera, RN (transfer) • Selena Robbins, RN • Alma Robledo, PCT • Tara Rogers, RN • Mike Serio RN • Keiry Suero, PCT • Wendy Smith-Boehm, PCT (transfer) • Sonia Suarez, RN • Erin Swisher, RN • Amanda Taylor, RN • Molly Thompson, RN • Lisa (Dung) Tran, RN • Barbara Verplank, RN • Myrna Vizcarrondo, PCT • Charlotte Von Holleben, RN • Mary Wagner, RN • Bonnie Ward, RN • Amanda Wareham, RN (transfer) • Phillip Weathers, RN • Mary Zelonka, RN • Kristina Davis, MA • Jennifer Krajacic, RN, MSN, CNL • Linda Drexel, RN, BSN • Michelle Devost, MSN, RN, CCM • Meagan Cherry, MSW • Jenna Ribble, RN • Geoff Kneen, MPH • Kim Bryant, BSN, RN
Their exceptional team skills, professionalism, and thoughtfulness deserve to be recognized. A patient came to us and should have been discharged home shortly after admission. Unfortunately, the patient was brought to the hospital by a family member who had been very difficult to work with regarding discharge. After much back and forth in the initial stages of discharge planning, it was determined that no one at home was willing or able to take the patient back home resulting in an extended length of stay. While the incredible social workers and case managers (including Geoff Kneen, Kim Bryant, Kristina Davis, Jennifer Krajacic, Linda Drexel, Michelle Devost, Meagan Cherry, and Jenna Ribble) went hard to work trying to find placement for the patient, it was discovered that the patient had a previous criminal history that restricted his placement options. This history paired with the medical necessity of 24-hour care lead to a very difficult case. Day in and day out, the social workers and case managers looked for any and all available options to place the patient so that the patient could continue to his life journey outside of the hospital walls.
Ultimately after receiving no assistance from family members and becoming nearly impossible to reach via phone or email, a legal guardian was appointed to assist with discharge and placement. An attorney was also appointed to expunge the patient's record from many years ago so that he could potentially be accepted at a facility. Referrals were sent to 87+ skilled nursing facilities in the surrounding counties. As terrible as the patient's situation was, those caring for the patient at the bedside brought the patient so much joy. The entire team from nursing to dietary to physical therapy and housekeeping learned the patient's interests and what made the patient happy.
One of the first things the team learned about the patient was an interest in music. The patient was not able to operate the television. One team member took it upon herself to see if purchasing reading glasses from the gift shop would help the patient in the slightest to see but no such luck. So, the team started to build music playlists for the patient based on interests. These playlists would play for the majority of the day (and night) and kept the patient happy. Often times team members could be found in his room singing with the patient. Any team member knew that if the patient wasn't clapping and singing that the music wasn't on.
Team members and those from ancillary departments who weren't assigned made it a part of their day to check in on the patient, who very quickly became a favorite patient to many team members. Another thing the team learned about the patient is an infatuation with WWE wrestling. The patient shared with several team members that as a child the patient was not able to watch and one of the favorite things to watch was WWE. Even though the patient could not see the television, just being able to hear "WWE Smackdown" made the patient light up the room! Team members learned who the favorite wrestlers were and even brought in WWE action figures to keep the patient occupied.
Team members also learned of the patient's favorite foods and drink. If the patient was awake, you could bet the patient was asking for a Pepsi; not having any dietary restrictions kept the patient hydrated with Pepsi all day long! It was unknown when the patient would finally be accepted to a facility, but it was known that wherever the patient went, the patient was not going to have any possessions. When word got around that discharge to a group home was close, team members rallied together and brought in donations of clothing and basic essentials to ease the transition to a new living situation. So many donations were given by team members that it took five team members to escort the patient with new belongings to the discharge vehicle. The patient departed our unit five months after admission. While the patient may never really know the importance of the actions this group of people made, it was humbling to watch this team come together and help change the life of the patient. Truly, humanity at work.
Ultimately after receiving no assistance from family members and becoming nearly impossible to reach via phone or email, a legal guardian was appointed to assist with discharge and placement. An attorney was also appointed to expunge the patient's record from many years ago so that he could potentially be accepted at a facility. Referrals were sent to 87+ skilled nursing facilities in the surrounding counties. As terrible as the patient's situation was, those caring for the patient at the bedside brought the patient so much joy. The entire team from nursing to dietary to physical therapy and housekeeping learned the patient's interests and what made the patient happy.
One of the first things the team learned about the patient was an interest in music. The patient was not able to operate the television. One team member took it upon herself to see if purchasing reading glasses from the gift shop would help the patient in the slightest to see but no such luck. So, the team started to build music playlists for the patient based on interests. These playlists would play for the majority of the day (and night) and kept the patient happy. Often times team members could be found in his room singing with the patient. Any team member knew that if the patient wasn't clapping and singing that the music wasn't on.
Team members and those from ancillary departments who weren't assigned made it a part of their day to check in on the patient, who very quickly became a favorite patient to many team members. Another thing the team learned about the patient is an infatuation with WWE wrestling. The patient shared with several team members that as a child the patient was not able to watch and one of the favorite things to watch was WWE. Even though the patient could not see the television, just being able to hear "WWE Smackdown" made the patient light up the room! Team members learned who the favorite wrestlers were and even brought in WWE action figures to keep the patient occupied.
Team members also learned of the patient's favorite foods and drink. If the patient was awake, you could bet the patient was asking for a Pepsi; not having any dietary restrictions kept the patient hydrated with Pepsi all day long! It was unknown when the patient would finally be accepted to a facility, but it was known that wherever the patient went, the patient was not going to have any possessions. When word got around that discharge to a group home was close, team members rallied together and brought in donations of clothing and basic essentials to ease the transition to a new living situation. So many donations were given by team members that it took five team members to escort the patient with new belongings to the discharge vehicle. The patient departed our unit five months after admission. While the patient may never really know the importance of the actions this group of people made, it was humbling to watch this team come together and help change the life of the patient. Truly, humanity at work.
Thank you for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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