PEACE recognition announced

Dave Morehead, RN, Milford Campus Intensive Care Unit, earned PEACE (Patient Experience Award for Caring and Excellence) recognition for helping a patient at the end of his life who had been on the unit over two weeks. Morehead wasn’t assigned to the patient the night before he passed away but continued to check on him. Before leaving for the night, Morehead reminded family members that their parents’ love and the life they built together was the reason everyone was in the room. “Dave not only took care of my father-in-law’s physical needs, but his emotional ones as well. I’m certain he helped ease my father-in-law’s transition into hospice and ultimately his eternal rest,” the patient’s daughter-in-law said. “I hope Dave knows the profound impact he had on our family. We will never forget him.”

Ariana Schanzer, MD, earned Patient Experience Award for Caring and Excellence (PEACE) recognition for helping a former patient outside of work. Dr. Schanzer was grocery shopping one evening when she saw a person wandering around, screaming in agitation. Dr. Schanzer recognized the person as a former patient and knew the person had a condition that required her to be with a care provider. Dr. Schanzer had the patient’s mother’s contact info and called her. The mother was about to call the police about her missing daughter, who had left the house without notice. Dr. Schanzer called the police to help the patient return home safely.

A mother-daughter team earned PEACE (Patient Experience Award for Caring and Excellence) recognition for creating a care environment of compassion, support and wonder for a pediatric patient. When Shannon Dingus, radiation therapist, Smilow Radiation Therapy, was scheduled to provide the final treatment for a 3-year-old girl, she devised a plan to treat the patient like a princess – literally. Knowing the girl loved Disney, Shannon coordinated with her daughter, Eilee Dingus, observation associate, York Street Campus Adult Emergency Department, who plays Disney princesses at children’s parties. The mother and daughter crafted a princess dress, shoes and crown for the patient to wear to her final treatment. Eilee met her dressed in a matching costume as Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.” The patient was thrilled to celebrate the day like a “real” princess, and the family was grateful to the staff for creating a wonderful memory.