Barbara Falkowski, RN, Emergency Department, earned PEACE (Patient Experience Award for Caring and Excellence) recognition for tending to a patient transferred to the hospital with a burn inhalation injury. Upon learning he was from Poland, Falkowski spoke with the patient and his family in Polish, making them feel comfortable, calm and welcome. In addition, she helped by ordering their favorite foods and finding them clean clothes. Falkowski also earned the nursing DAISY award for her actions.
Patricia Poniros, RN, clinical navigator (right), and Louisa Correll, community health worker/health system navigator, Breast Care Center, were honored for working together to help a patient who was enrolled in the Early Detection & Prevention Program, a breast and cervical cancer screening program for the uninsured. The patient had a clinical breast exam in early August that showed swollen lymph nodes and breast lumps. The patient was scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound, but not until January. Correll contacted Poniros, who was able to get the patient imaging appointments that week. Following imaging, the patient was scheduled for a biopsy. The actions of Poniros and Correll made a significant, positive difference to this patient’s care.
Milevie Ruiz Burgos, RN, Pediatrics, received the Patient Experience Award for Caring and Excellence (PEACE) for helping care for a very fragile infant and his family. In addition to the child’s medical situation, the family had financial, social and housing insecurities. During the baby’s recent visit to the pediatric clinic, Ruiz Burgos learned that the mom did not have a stroller and had not been able to take the baby outside for a walk. She also did not have a bath seat to bathe the infant. After unsuccessful attempts to obtain community resources to buy a stroller and bath seat, Ruiz Burgos organized a collection from pediatric clinic staff to purchase the items, then delivered them to the family’s home. Seeing that the baby did not have a crib, Ruiz Burgos ordered one, assembled it and delivered it to the family, along with some groceries.
Lynn Carbino, RN, Smilow Cancer Center, received PEACE recognition for helping a patient who stopped by her office saying she had a 7:30 am appointment. Carbino tried to determine where the appointment was, but the patient could not remember the doctor’s name. Carbino accessed the woman’s Epic chart and saw the appointment was scheduled for the following Monday at 9 am. Since the patient seemed very confused, Carbino checked the chart notes, which indicated a history of confusion and a diagnosis of early dementia. The woman told Carbino she was supposed to meet her daughter at the cancer center. After trying unsuccessfully to contact the daughter, Carbino arranged a ride home for the patient, called the patient’s son and stayed on the phone with him until his mother was safely home.
The Surgical Step-down unit (SLA 2) team was honored for creating a compassionate, supportive and empathetic care environment for a nonverbal patient with a complicated, long-term physical condition and complex family dynamics. While the patient was on SLA 2, the team learned to recognize the patient’s signs of discomfort. When the patient was transferred to another unit due to bed availability, SLA 2 nurses visited and recognized that the patient’s complex care needs would be difficult for staff on the new unit to learn quickly and coordinate. They advocated to have the patient returned to SLA 2, where they provided care until the patient passed away.
Perspectives | November 07, 2024
