Our GEMS: Staff going the extra mile

A patient came to Reid Urgent Care seeking treatment for multiple complaints, including pain in his feet. The patient was homeless, and his only belongings were the clothes he was wearing. The patient's feet were covered in blisters, and a few appeared infected. The patient said his lone pair of socks would become wet and although he tried to let them dry as much as possible, he wasn't always able to do so. When Chris C. found out we didn't have any dry socks/footies at Urgent Care to give the patient, he quickly went to the store to purchase the patient a full pack of socks with his own money. When Chris returned and gave the patient the socks, the patient began to cry. It might have seemed like a small gesture, but to the patient, it was the world!

A patient who came into the office for an injection brought along their granddaughter. The granddaughter had a stuffed Elmo doll that James Hunter, PA, took the time to give a full check-up and its own injection. The granddaughter was over the moon that James took the time to check on her stuffy. The patient and granddaughter left extremely happy and with giant smiles.

Jeffrey Haist, MD, Richmond Cardiology Associates, noticed several things weren't right with a patient, but there was no physical reason for her symptoms. As he delved deeper, the patient eventually revealed she was in an abusive relationship and had no money, no relatives, and no one she could turn to for help. Dr. Haist took it upon himself to call several places in Muncie and Richmond for her. Unfortunately, all the places required the patient's dog be placed in a kennel, and the patient refused to take further action. Dr. Haist chose to take care of the dog so the patient would be able to get the help she needs.

Recently, the decision was made to withdraw care for a patient, and the family chose not to be at their bedside at that time. Lara R., Nursing Critical Care, was there and held the patient's hand in those final moments until they passed.

Transportation issues forced a patient to delay care, and by the time she was finally able to make an office visit, she needed to be sent to the Emergency Department instead. The patient later returned to the office for a follow-up appointment, still having transportation issues. Kristine W., Patient Continuum of Care, paid the person who provided transportation for the patient. Kristine is very caring and does everything she can to care for patients. She finds all the programs she can to help patients achieve their best possible health outcomes.

A patient who has dementia recently visited the Reid Health Comprehensive Bone & Joint Center. Although she has visited the center previously, the patient often cries because she's confused and only wants to go home. At the end of the patient's recent visit, Robbin S. was gentle, patient, and sweet with her. The patient took an interest in a stuffed gnome that Robbin kept at her desk, and Robbin gave the patient the gnome without a moment's thought. This instantly turned the patient's mood around, and she left without crying, extremely happy to have a new friend to take with her.

A Urological Care patient couldn't afford stoppers or tennis balls for their walker, causing the walker's feet to loudly drag and scrape the ground. Tara B. and Kylie M., Urological Care, split the cost to buy tennis balls and put them on the walker. According to the nomination, "This absolutely made the patient's day!"

A patient was having surgery to remove cancer from their ear and have a skin graft. Terry G., ROSE, noticed the numbing shots to the ear were quite painful for the patient, so he held their hand and talked with them throughout the procedure. "My words cannot express how these simple gestures really calmed me and helped me," the patient said. "Thank you, Mr. Garrett."

On a recent day when there were 169 patients in the hospital, one had special needs for her diet. James C., Food and Nutrition Services, came in on his day off to cook lunch and dinner for that one patient. "This really goes above and beyond to meet the needs of the department and hospital," the nominator wrote. "Thanks, Chef, for such a caring spirit."

A 5-year-old was found sitting on a bench with her dog at the entrance to the Reid Health Emergency Department - Connersville. The child said she had no parents and she had slept outside the night before. While the Emergency Department staff cared for her and began the process of identifying and finding proper placement, a trio of staffers went above and beyond to help. Shawna V., Patient Resources Services, went to Walmart and bought the child new clothing; Allyson G., Patient Access Connersville, went home to pick up a pet crate for the dog to rest in; and Cody F., Reid Health Police Department, kept the dog in the department and then brought it over so the child could see it before she left.

Derek S., Pharmacy, was delivering medications to a patient before discharge when the patient mentioned she was anxious about leaving the hospital because she didn't have a jacket to wear in the cold weather. Derek went to the gift shop and bought her a jacket and a hat, refusing to allow the patient to pay him back.

Patrice M., Central Scheduling, had scheduled a massage for herself one evening after work. She received a call from an expectant mother who wanted to schedule a massage, but it was going to be several weeks before she could get in. Without telling the patient, Patrice gave up her time so the patient wouldn't have to wait.