In a first of its kind for L+M and Westerly hospitals, two physical therapists recently received the Blue Lotus award. The first honorees are L+M’s Andrea Spelman and Westerly Hospital’s Bridget Gamache.
The inspiration for the award was born out of suggestions from the Employee Engagement Survey where employees asked for hospital-wide recognition for colleagues in Rehabilitation, said Jennifer Lombardo, director of Rehab.
“The Blue Lotus flower symbolizes rebirth, wisdom, knowledge and intuition,” she said. “As rehabilitation professionals, we are dedicated to the rebirth of our patients, sharing our wisdom and knowledge with others and using our intuition to facilitate healing.”
Lombardo said the department received more than 20 nominations, all of which were excellent, but two winners were picked to represent this year’s most outstanding examples of patient-centered care, optimizing the patient experience, respecting patients and colleagues, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, and demonstrating other traits such as compassion, integrity and responsibility.
Gamache and Spelman, who each received multiple nominations, were described as role models for Yale New Haven Health’s values; trailblazers; people who always promote a “culture of learning;” and therapists who treat others with dignity and respect.
Perspectives | November 07, 2024
