Bridgeport Hospital PEACE winners for May are Milford Campus staff members Kristofer Knerr, RN, IV Team and Michele Velush, RN, ICU assistant nurse manager. The Patient Experience Award for Caring and Excellence (PEACE) recognizes employees who provide a positive patient experience by demonstrating the values that embody Yale New Haven Health’s Standards of Professional Behavior. Knerr and Velush were recognized for advocating for a patient who had a functional seizure while waiting for an ultrasound. The patient had seizures in the past and knew her capabilities when she had them. Radiology called an adult medical emergency, but the patient was awake in fewer than two minutes. This was the patient’s third attempt at the ultrasound and she wanted to continue with it. Knowing the patient’s history, Knerr and Velush advocated for her to have the scan. They stayed with the patient until the ultrasound was completed, ensuring she had a good experience and that Radiology staff had support if needed. The patient appreciated all their efforts.
Samantha Hoey, patient financial access specialist, was honored for helping a patient with a history of multiple brain injuries and seizures who needed to come in for a reevaluation. As a result of her seizure history, the patient cannot drive and has difficulty with planning and organization. After speaking with Hoey on multiple occasions the patient shared that she was struggling to get transportation to her appointment. Hoey spent a significant amount of time finding the appropriate forms, obtaining necessary signatures and returning them to the appropriate agency to ensure this patient had a ride to her appointment. When the ride service was late, Hoey followed up to ensure the delay wouldn't result in a missed appointment. Rather than saying “that's not my job,” Hoey went above and beyond to get the patient the care she needed.
Anesthesiologist Hanief M. Abrahams, MD, was recognized for supporting a patient during her labor and delivery. When the baby’s heart rate dropped, an emergency c-section was needed. Dr. Abrahams “worked magic to not have to put me all the way under and instead narrated slowly and peacefully what was happening to my body as my son was born,” the patient wrote. “As soon as he let out his first cry, Dr. Abrahams let me know it was all going to be okay. Doctors have the tremendous gift to change a person's life and we will always remember Dr. Abrahams for his kindness and calm on one of our scariest, but also most beautiful days.”
Joan Calvar, business associate, Emergency Department, was recognized for her efficiency and effectiveness during two stroke code activations that occurred within 30 minutes of each other. Time is brain, and rapid assessment and intervention were needed for both patients, as well as emergent transfer to a tertiary hospital to provide them with the best chance of improving their outcomes. Calvar’s knowledge of the transfer process saved time when time was of the essence. By the time EMS arrived, the patients and all paperwork and imaging were ready to go. The transfers were the fastest the GH ED has ever achieved, and the fact that Calvar coordinated both at the same time with such amazing results was remarkable.
