Heroes At Every Turn

 

We recently celebrated Hospital Heroes who help to bridge the gaps in healthcare by providing exceptional care to their patients and their families, and who, through a deep desire to serve and connect, have left an indelible mark on their communities. They are specialists and nurses as well as volunteers, program directors, social workers, and surgeons. What follows are a series of profiles of these heroes.

Sam Digeraldo, a widowed Marine who served in Korea, volunteers five days per week at the Anaheim Global Medical Center, in every unit of the hospital. As a volunteer, Sam is called upon to assist the medical staff and patients in numerous ways, and he has become very well-known around the hospital. Sam also has the important role of collecting patient care surveys, which ensures that patients get the care and attention needed. Collecting pertinent information for the surveys requires Sam to take time to listen to patients and truly understand their needs. These surveys allow medical staff to focus on possible opportunities and determine resolutions. In addition to volunteering, Sam has also become a vital part of the Medical Explorers Program that offers high school students first-hand exposure to a wide range of career opportunities within the healthcare field. The students and staff meet twice per month, and Sam has not missed a single meeting. Sam is a true hero who spends his spare time helping Orange County's youth as well as its patients.

At ProvidenceLittle Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, Betty Liu is the emergency department social worker, serving the most vulnerable of her community – including psychiatric patients. The patients are frequently homeless and have multiple needs beyond their health care concerns.  It challenges even the most compassionate person to look beyond certain behaviors in order to respond to the deeper needs of the patients, yet Betty meets the needs of her patients exactly where they are. She does not judge, rather she accepts them and assesses them to help them. She looks beyond the immediate story and identifies the real emotional and psychiatric issues of our most challenging patients. Betty serves as an advocate for her patients, often times going above and beyond to find resources to guide them once they leave the hospital.  For one young woman, she immediately recognized she suffered more than a psychiatric issue. She researched and found the patient had suffered a poor outcome at another facility, and as her advocate, Betty was able to help secure a better outcome for her. That patient likely won’t remember Betty or that Betty saved her from the streets, but Betty does not need accolades to come back the next day and care for her patients.

For three decades, Sister Colleen Settles, has been a spiritual force, leading by example as she encourages the 13,000 Providence Southern California employees to live the Providence mission of compassionate outreach to the poor and vulnerable. She has created programs and community partnerships serving the homeless, the poor, school children in low-income neighborhoods, the uninsured and the elderly. She has led outreach missions to the impoverished in Mexico and Guatemala. She is an unwavering voice of compassion, ethics, respect and justice. Sr. Colleen served as regional chief mission integration officer, and last year became director of mission integration of the newest Providence hospital, SaintJohn’s Health Center. She guides chaplains in caring for patients of all faiths and supports employees managing transition issues, ensuring all concerns are addressed. Her steadfast support for employees inspires them to provide the best possible care to their patients, care driven by compassion, ethics, respect and a focus on excellence. She also was instrumental in creating Access to Care, which finds continuous care health care for chronically ill uninsured patients who rely on Emergency care.

At Palo VerdeHospital in Blythe, CEO Sandra J. Anaya is a hero.  She has raised the importance of community rural health and has profoundly impacted the community and her staff. She has assisted several individuals who were in need of food, shelter and mental stabilization by personally reaching to Riverside County agencies for assistance. Since Blythe does not have any homeless shelters and has no mental health stabilization units, she ensured that these individuals received the appropriate treatment they deserved. Furthermore, she has encouraged and supported employees in continuing their educational development. In 2015, one employee received their certification as a Dietary Manager from the Association of Nutritional and Food Service Professionals. In addition to her outstanding work, she has deeply committed herself to the progress of this hospital. In the two years that she has been PVH-CEO, she secured hospital accreditation with Det Norse Veritas, has opened a hospital-based clinic, started a Tele-Psych Program with the ED Dept., received a grant for community prevention awareness in diabetes and obesity, received a partial grant for a EMR System, and will install a new CT scanner within the next few months. All of these actions have demonstrated what a hero's efforts are all about!

National Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and enhancing the healthcare of the underserved by developing and supporting innovative programs that can become independently viable,

provide systemic solutions to gaps in healthcare access and delivery, and

have the potential to be replicated nationally.

National Health Foundation Hospital Heroes: Nurses Who Soar!

At National Health Foundation, we are a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and enhancing the healthcare of the underserved by developing and supporting innovative programs that can become independently viable, provide systemic solutions to gaps in healthcare access and delivery, and have the potential to be replicated nationally. We recently celebrated Hospital Heroes who help to bridge the gaps in healthcare by providing exceptional care to their patients and their families, and who, through a deep desire to serve and connect, have left an indelible mark on their communities. What follows are a series of profiles of these heroes.

Anyone who has ever been in the hospital can agree that a caring nurse makes all the difference.  Of course patients appreciate efficiency and skill but what we heard over and over again in the nominations for Hospital Heroes Awards was that there was something extra, something special about these nurses. Over and above being able to deliver safe and effective care was their ability to truly connect with their patients. These connections brought about a deeper kind of healing, a healing rooted in understanding and compassion.

Jarrud Knapp, an R.N. at GlendaleAdventist Medical Center has been described this way by his patients and their families: wonderful, attentive, considerate, never tires of doing whatever he is asked with love, an exceptional person and, he always made eye contact, an angel. But the most telling description of Jarrud came from the patient who was dealing with severe pain. When Jarrud found out his patient liked Jazz music, he played it from his phone for the patient to listen in order to help alleviate the patient's pain on top of the narcotic medication that was administered. Patients, their families and his coworkers agreed that he is indeed a Hospital Hero.

Charity Maldonado, R.N., has been a charge nurse with Centinela Hospital Medical Center for more than 20 years. Her exceptional clinical and critical thinking skills were pivotal in the successful implementation of the MediTech electronic medical records system and Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) system. She provides a seamless link between the clinical staff of the hospital and with the patients and family members. Her main goal is to put patients and family member’s at-ease when they are experiencing difficult health care issues. Her ability to troubleshoot and solve problems allows her to act as a liaison between the clinical staff and her patients, giving medical staff the ability to communicate more effectively with patients. Due to her skill and knowledge, the hospital’s EMR and CPOE systems has led to greater patient care, accurate and timely diagnostic tests and interventional procedures and correct medication administration all of which support and improve patient outcomes. Her dedication and commitment inspires those around her to also go “above and beyond,” which is why Charity is a hospital hero.

Jody Pederson, an R.N./Neuro Telemetry of the Eisenhower Medical Center is one of the first Stroke Certified Nurses in Coachella Valley and is on the Stroke Committee, as well as the Unit Based Committee, which is part of the Professional Practice Model. As an out-of-the-box thinker, Jody makes a difference for her patients and family members and devises unique ideas to solve complex patient and family issues. When a patient was admitted for management of AFib, nausea, vomiting, dehydration with dizziness, Jody felt the dizziness could be result of Cerebellar Infarct and encouraged the physician to order MRI, which showed very large Cerebellar Infarct.  Due to Jody’s incredible assessment skills, an MRI was ordered. If the patient had been sent home, he could have suffered a devastating stroke. On another occasion, Jody advocated on behalf of a patient whose prognosis was grave and was in need of comfort care and hospice, but whose only relative was in Australia and unable to see the seriousness of his brother’s condition. Jody organized a Skype call that led the brother to request comfort measures. Unfortunately, the patient passed away the next day.  Without Jody's compassionate care, the patient would have continued to struggle, and the brother would not have been unable to say good-bye.

At FoothillPresbyterian Hospital, Melissa Chambers, R.N., MSN is the Charge Nurse for Medical and Surgical Services. She headed implementation efforts around a robust bedside shift report process that has been successful and fully integrated into practice. She planned for, educated, executed, evaluated, and now maintains the process. She was integral in the process from day one, and her motivation to see it through completion was infectious among the staff. She worked outside of her regularly scheduled hours to make sure that the new bedside shift report process was not just in practice but was being done at the expected level. She took time to work with staff that were struggling and encourage people to participate. It has enhanced patient satisfaction, patient safety, and overall communication. Patients and staff have remarked on how improved the unit is. Her enthusiasm and ability to mobilize and entire unit make her a Hospital Hero.

Connection, enthusiasm, encouragement and innovation are the hallmarks of these Hospital Heroes, and they prove that there is so much right with our healthcare system. In fact, they remind us what health care is really about: CARE.

Stay tuned as we share more Hospital Hero Awardee profiles in the coming days.

Hospital Heroes Profile: René Van Hoorn, Donna Glenn and Kathy Schmitt; Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital

On November 6th, we celebrated a group of heroes, Hospital Heroes to be precise. These twenty-six individuals touch the lives of their patients and families in ways that go far beyond the scope of their already demanding jobs. These are therapists, nurses, surgeons, volunteers and program coordinators who advocate on behalf of their patients, inspire future generations to aspire to more and celebrate their heritage and their new-found homes in ways that are a shining example of all that is right with health care. What follows is our first in a series of Hospital Heroes profiles.

René Van Hoorn (program coordinator), Donna Glenn and Kathy Schmitt work together to bring a remarkable program to children and young adults – CRH Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp (JWSC). This annual event touches many lives and, with these three dedicated clinicians, has generated growing community support from more than 50 contributing organizations and individuals. It’s a week-long summer camp that campers, families, instructors, staff and volunteers look forward to all year.

René, Donna and Kathy understand the importance of role models for children in wheelchairs. The camp instructors are athletes, teachers, engineers, writers … and they use wheelchairs. They encourage and inspire campers to dream big, to challenge themselves, to see possibilities. For René’s team, this is the ultimate goal. Their work is all about improving quality of life for individuals with physical challenges — helping them discover the joy in recreational activity.

For many campers, JWSC offers a unique opportunity to experience activities like being in a pool, using scuba gear and kayaks. With CRH nurses onsite to provide medical aid, campers can increase their confidence and independence in a protected setting.

René recognized JWSC’s important role in serving mobility impaired children and championed the cause. She led efforts to transfer stewardship of the program to Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital when previous resources could no longer support it. For the seven years since, she and her team have attended to every detail to ensure positive experiences for campers — recruiting volunteers, instructors and counselors, arranging for travel and accommodations, and creating an award ceremony. During this one inspiring week, campers and their families often make friendships for a lifetime. JWSC, supported by Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, offers an experience that shapes futures, supports families, and contributes to the community’s appreciation of the worth and dignity of people with disabilities.

Celebrating Hospital Heroes

by Denise Muniz, CFRE, NHF Chief Development Officer

On November 6^th, National Health Foundation (NHF) will celebrate thirty outstanding health care professionals on the occasion of the 10^th annual Hospital Hero Awards Luncheon. National Health Foundation will recognize the inspiring and compassionate individuals who are bridging gaps in healthcare by delivering outstanding, direct patient care that goes above and beyond job descriptions. These are individuals who are seeing care through the eyes of patients and their families, supporting patients and caregivers to make informed choices and ensuring they access and make use of the services needed. They are working across professional and organizational boundaries, actively seeking and applying patient feedback and engaging with the local community to ensure the development and delivery of appropriate services. These are individuals for whom the delivery of this type of care is habitual, and possibly even contagious!

The nominee stories are truly inspiring. One occupational therapist had a patient who had been left a paraplegic from a recent motorcycle accident and missed his college graduation. This hero arranged a surprise graduation ceremony at the hospital with the Dean of Students, Psychology Professor and the patient’s family members, so the patient would not miss out on a day he had worked so hard to achieve. Another nominee, a nurse, found a patient of his really liked jazz music, so he played music for a patient on his phone in order to help alleviate the pain and stress the patient was experiencing from treatments. These are just 2 of the incredible nominee stories of courage and care.

“This event gives the community an opportunity to see what is right in health care. These Hospital Heroes are reaching beyond the obvious to deliver meaningful and personal care while they are inspiring patients and their families to identify and secure the services they need,” asserts Kelly Bruno, NHF CEO. “Furthermore, the Hospital Hero Awards Luncheon is an opportunity for the community to support the work that we do as a nonprofit enhancing health care access for the underserved.”

National Health Foundation’s mission is to bridge the gaps in healthcare by supporting innovative programs that can become independently viable, provide systemic solutions to gaps in healthcare access and delivery, and have the potential to be replicated nationally.

BUILD Health Challenge in South Los Angeles: An Opportunity to BUILD Together

By Alba Peña, MURP, National Health Foundation Senior Program Coordinator

South Los Angeles is one of the most disadvantaged, underserved communities in the nation. With over 1 million people lacking convenient access to healthy food or open space for physical activity, it’s not surprising that its residents suffer disproportionately from high rates of obesity (over 70% of adults) and other chronic diseases. While traditional approaches to health disparities are often reactive and respond to the symptoms of an unhealthy community, treating systems alone will not solve this growing epidemic. Inequalities in health outcomes must be addressed at the root causes, or what public health professionals refer to the ‘social determinants’ of health, which are a wider set of forces and systems that shape the conditions of one’s daily life. Young people in South Los Angeles have recognized that the biggest barriers to healthy lifestyles are issues of access to healthy food and access to safe, inviting parks and sidewalks that promote daily physical activity.

The "BUILD Health Challenge", a prestigious national program, recently announced the Youth-Driven Healthy South Los Angeles partnership as one of the grant awardees. The South LA partnership, which includes National HealthFoundation (NHF), the project lead, along with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and California HospitalMedical Center (CHMC), will work together in developing a comprehensive community strategic plan for South Central and Central Alameda neighborhoods of South Los Angeles. The goal is to identify “upstream solutions” to the community’s health inequities. Upstream solutions are key community factors that promote healthy lifestyles. The plan will illustrate how such solutions must be implemented to improve the health of these two communities. NHF professionals and local youth trained as Community Health Liaisons will work together to tackle complex socio-health problems that encompass economic landscapes, regulation and public policy, the built environment, transportation and infrastructure, educational attainment, public safety and housing.

Following a comprehensive review of the community’s health related issues, the students and partners will engage the community to discuss opportunities for improvements. Local partners will then be convened to define roles and responsibilities to tackle the identified issues. The strategic plan will be available for review in Spring 2016.

Vice Admiral (VADM) Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A. United States Surgeon General, speaking at the 2015 Aspen Ideas Festival pointed to the value adopting a wider view of health, “We have traditionally thought about health in a very narrow context. Health is far more broad than what hospitals and doctors and nurses do. So how do we improve health across America? We need to go into the communities and think about the factors that drive health.”