We are thankful for all our health care heroes. Here’s a summary of shout outs featured in the Daily Updates from April 24-30 and our favorite video of the week.
Thank you to these awesome UofL Health team members who are doing extraordinary things during this time of crisis:
April 24
- I would like to give a SHOUT OUT to the Medical Oncology Team, at the JGBCC for working so hard to keep our patient’s safe during this Pandemic. And many thanks to the Schedulers/Secretaries for making the Telehealth transition so smooth. You guys ROCK!
- We would like to give a shout out to Smita Ranjan, ARNP. Her primary clinics are melanoma and lung at the Brown Cancer Center. She is so much more than a nurse practitioner, she is a patient advocate, an educational resource and an ear for staff to talk and learn from routinely. Her abilities to manage her clinic demands and the needs of her patients is unwavering. Smita is able to multitask her responsibilities, handle the Cerner system and care for our patients all without losing her smile. She is willing to jump in and help anyone that needs it and goes above and beyond on a daily basis. The Brown Cancer Center could not be what it is today without the face of Smita Ranjan, ARNP – we love her and the patients adore her!
- I would like to give a shout out to Justin Fordeck, System Director for Sterile Processing. I want to send a big thank you to Justin for his time and efforts with our facility and the N95 process. ALSO, one of our rural Level 4 trauma hospitals reached out to me about the sterilization process. Justin took time to send resources and guidance to this hospital. They were so very appreciative that he took time away from his incredibly busy schedule to help them! I think this is an example of Justin’s character and heart- willing to help over and above his regular duties! U of L Health is a resource to our community and region in so many ways- and this is just one instance! Thank you Justin!
- I want to give a shout out to our Post-Acute and Long-term Care Providers: Dr. Laura Morton and our Nurse Practitioners, Angela Leinenbach, Mary Skinner, Ronnita Usher, and Amy Varner. They care for patients in our four facilities – Episcopal Church Home, Masonic Home, Presbyterian Home, and Treyton Oak Towers. They care for older adults – our most vulnerable population in conditions that are very stressful due to COVID. They have been willing to embrace telehealth, come to work everyday with a positive attitude, show leadership at the facilities and exhibit great compassion. They are our healthcare heroes.
April 27
- I want to give a shout out to the staff working in our laboratories that have worked tirelessly to bring testing in house that allow our physicians to diagnosis COVID-19. The microbiology department at UofL Hospital has done a tremendous job at verifying different testing platforms so that we can do COVID-19 testing in the hospital lab. Their dedication to providing supreme patient care allows our providers to have results is about 4 hours. This opportunity would not have been possible without the above and beyond efforts of Bob VanBuskirk, supply chain, and Jim McGown, Lab Director. Thank you Jim for your great leadership through all of our trials and tribulations.
- I would like to give a SHOUT OUT to all the Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapist Assistants in our organization. I work alongside the OTs/COTAs at Frazier Rehab each day and they are some of our finest healthcare heroes. Their ability to help patients gain independence with self-care regardless of injury or ailment is remarkable. Way to Go, OT Team! We appreciate you!! Happy National OT Month!
- I would like to give a shout out to Beckie McReynolds, our only full time speech-language pathologist here at Mary and Elizabeth Hospital. She dons her PPE without a second thought when the covid positive or rule out patients need to be seen to assure safe swallow following extubation, or when there is a concern for aspiration. She does what is needed so our frontline nursing staff know the safest way for patients to eat and take needed medications. She is a healthcare hero!
- I would love to give a huge shout out to the staff of 5 Core, 7 West, 8 South, and 7 South at University Hospital. They have all taken on the challenge and role of being the people caring for the positive COVID and rule out COVID patients with grace and flexibility. Their determination to care for these patients every day and give them the best outcome is amazing. They continue to provide amazing care under continually changing circumstances and I am so proud to watch them do what they do best. They truly deserve recognition for being great team players and stepping up to fight this battle. Way to go teams, you all rock!
April 28
- I’d like to give a shout out to our HR team. They are responsive and thoughtful to inquiries and changing dynamics with answers and guidance for every unique situation presented to them. They have been helpful and supportive in these unprecedented times, and have brought a sense of calm presenting new guidelines to put in place as needed.
- Just wanted to give a “shout out” to all leadership across the system. I feel safer at work than I do at the grocery store! I know that leadership has worked so hard to keep us safe and informed…we are deeply appreciative! And a special “shout out” to the leadership at Mary & Elizabeth Hospital – Thank you for all that you do every day!
- I cannot speak highly enough of my team! I am thankful the float nurse had a great time and learning experience. She is welcome back anytime!
- I would like to give a big shout out to the Employee Health Nurses at ALL locations of UofL Health. Our office has been working with them daily. They are a great helpful team and very attentive to the needs of their UofL Health team members. Thanks for all you do!
April 29
- Lorraine Capo and Sarah McClymonds are the two remaining heroes of the whole Language Services department who are still working and doing face to face interpretation! They deserve recognition!
- I would like to give a SHOUT OUT to Cardinal Station and CPC Employees! Everyone has jumped in working many tasks all day long while giving GREAT Care to our patients! Thank you!
- I want to give a shout out to 1 East nurses and staff working the unit since becoming isolation unit. They are working so those of us that are high risk can work on other units to stay safe.
- I want to give a shout out to Brenda Ledford manager of 2South. When I work on her unit she has team meetings twice daily. They are very informative. Also some days she will come in and buy lunch for whoever is working on the unit that day. She’s there for her employees and we’re lucky to have her at U of L Peace.
April 30
- I want to give a shout out to 1 East nurses and staff working the unit since becoming isolation unit. They are working so those of us that are high risk can work on other units to stay safe.
- I would like all of us to acknowledge hard work being done every day by our 5-Core and 7-west critical care nurses and support team members. These bright and hard-working individuals have been taking care of our critically ill COVID-19 patients every day. They are risking their lives every day to save their critically ill patients. I very much appreciate their excellent care, hard work, and very pleasant approach in spite of the stresses of these difficult times.
- We need to recognize the real front liners like our ER Team and MICU Team physicians and nurses. Their day-and-night hard work is much appreciated.
- I want to give a shout out to Martha Mather who has continually been there to inform, educate, and support us during this Covid journey! She has worked so hard to support her team and more importantly to ensure we are providing the absolute best care to our patients! She has been patient and positive, and always tries her absolute best! We are so thankful for Martha here at Peace!
Are you seeing co-workers turn into health care heroes during this time of crisis? Give them a “shout out” so we can all recognize their extraordinary actions. Simply email marketing@uoflhealth.org with their name, department and how they are making a difference. Be sure to note “Shout Out” in the subject line.
