This post was written by Wendy Bentz, annual giving coordinator, Parkview Health Foundation.
On August 11, the Parkview Wabash Hospital (PWB) surgical team was called to the conference room for a special surprise. In late June, Michael Carroll, a recent patient, sent a glowing letter of appreciation to the department following a routine colonoscopy.
Michael returned to PWB for an appreciation event to honor several caregivers with the Parkview Health Foundation's Guardian Angel award. His last colonoscopy, at a non-Parkview facility, was a frightening experience. He stopped breathing during the procedure and woke up gasping for air. Naturally, his anxiety was high when he arrived at PWB.
"I was truly scared lying there waiting for your team to start the procedure. Thinking, was this going to be another event like the last time?" Michael wrote in his letter. "My trust in you was clearly the best decision I have made in my life. Your team was just awesome, and I could never thank you enough."
To recognize the exceptional care he received, Kelsey Snyder, development coordinator, Parkview Health Foundation, presented each team member involved in Michael's procedure with a certificate of appreciation. Michael personally thanked each caregiver, gifting them a Guardian Angel pin and sharing a heartfelt sentiment: "In surgery, your faces were covered with masks, but everyone had kind eyes. I didn't need to see your faces to know you were good people."
In addition to the Guardian Angel pinning, Michael donated to the surgery department via the Foundation.
Alison Pershing, RN, CNOR, surgery manager, emphasized the importance of treating each patient as an individual. "While colonoscopies may be routine for us, they can be frightening for our patients," she said. "I'm proud of our team for consistently going above and beyond to ensure every patient feels safe and cared for."
Receiving a certificate and pin were Regina Davis, RN; Shawnna Meyer, RN; Sloan Hays, RN; Kayla Conn, RN; Jennifer Morris, CFSA; and Dr. Hilton Sparks, general surgeon. Also recognized, but unable to attend, was Dr. David Donaldson, anesthesiologist.
The Guardian Angel program is a way for patients and families to recognize co-workers or departments who have made a meaningful contribution to their healthcare experience through the exceptional care that was given. To learn more, visit the Foundation's Guardian Angel web page.
