Our GEMS: Staff going the extra mile

A patient who had cochlear implants wasn't able to communicate with staff or participate in group activities because the implants' batteries were dead. Valerie M., Adult Psych Services, went home in the middle of her shift and got her son's extra batteries and charger for the patient to use until they were able to fully charge his personal implants. When the patient realized she had swapped the batteries, he was so grateful for Valerie.

Jeff C., Engineering, came upon a patient and her husband sitting in their truck in the parking lot. Their vehicle's battery was dead, and they were waiting for the help they had called to show up. Jeff went to grab a battery jumper and got them going again so they didn't have to continue to wait. From the patient's husband, "What great people you have here at Reid. Every time we go to the hospital for appointments, people smile and say hello. How extraordinary!"

During a home visit, Tonya A., Patient Continuum of Care, became aware the patient didn't have any food. Tonya flexed her hours and took the patient food on her own time before she clocked in for her workday.

When an Environmental Services employee lost their car key and had to spend the night at work, Julie G. worked hard to get a key made for them. The employee tried to pay her back, but Julie said she was blessed to be able to do this for them and to instead just pay it forward. We're blessed to have Julie!

Lori M., Nursing Critical Care, was at the Chili's restaurant in Richmond when another person began choking on her food. Lori immediately sprang into action. Without hesitation, she jumped up, assessed the situation, told the woman she was going to help her, performed the Heimlich maneuver, and saved the woman's life.

The family of a former hospice patient wrote: My father became acquainted with Chaplain David Daniels through his care of my mom. He went well beyond the call of duty, picking up my father at his house to take him to grief counseling after her passing. He continued to visit my dad, call, and send flowers and cards to him over the next two-plus years as his health declined. Beyond David's friendship, his ultimate act of service was leading my father to Christ. He performed my mother's and father's funeral services with excellence. No words can describe the gratitude we have for your employee and servant of Christ.

Joey H., Contact Center, received a call from a patient who said she'd be late for her appointment because the bus had dropped her off at the wrong location in a parking lot of a non-Reid facility about two miles from her provider's office. This elderly patient wasn't physically able to walk to her appointment and intended to wait an hour for the bus to pick her back up. Joey went to check on the patient and found her standing in the parking lot in the 40-degree weather alone. He introduced himself and co-worker Stephanie F. They then took the patient to the appointment, with Stephanie ensuring the patient got checked in on time. These two showed the patient the true meaning of being a Reid employee.

Jacob B., Food & Nutrition Services, arrived at a patient's home to deliver meals just as the patient was in the process of backing out of their barely plowed driveway. The patient backed into a small snow drift, got out of their car and stepped into the drift, and then stopped, afraid they might fall. Jacob quickly got out of his van and helped the patient walk up the icy driveway and into their house to put the meals away. He then helped the patient back to their car. "I'm so very appreciative of his above and beyond efforts to assure my safety," the patient said.

Lynette D., Reid Inpatient OR, went to the Gingko Boutique and bought a pair of stretchy pants with her own money for a patient who had accidently soiled her pants and didn't have an extra pair to wear.

Aubree H., Material Processing, was working on 4 East when she was approached by a patient's wife. The patient had been at the hospital for four days after having emergency surgery with another surgery still to come. The patient was wanting a Coke but the Café at Twelve Hundred doesn't sell Coke products. Aubree went to The Market on the lower level and bought four Cokes for the patient using her own money. This kind act made the wife very happy.

Heather J., Patient Continuum of Care, made a home visit to a patient who was recently discharged. The patient is blind and hadn't had any food in her home to eat in three days. Heather helped the patient apply for SNAP benefits, got her enrolled in Meals on Wheels, and then used her own money to buy food so the patient would have something to eat in the meantime.