When the Emergency Department team at Carle BroMenn Medical Center needed support working with a patient with autism who is nonverbal, they contacted JB.
Dasha “JB” Blessing, an assistant in the Carle BroMenn Medical Oncology Specialty Unit, created a book to help the patient communicate, spent time with them and even bought them new clothes.
Blessing’s compassionate approach to care enhanced the patient’s ability to communicate and reduced their anxiety, allowing consistency of care at Carle BroMenn and after they were discharged.
Carle Health team members go above and beyond for their team and patients. Each quarter, Carle Health recognizes team members who live the Carle Health Values of Excellence, Integrity, Inclusivity, Compassion and Accountability, as well as Leaders and Teams who embrace all the Values.
Blessing earned the latest quarterly Way to Be! award for Compassion. Her full story and those of all seven Carle Health quarterly Way to Be! winners follow:
COMPASSION
Dasha “JB” Blessing, assistant in the Medical Oncology Specialty Unit at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal
Blessing performs a variety of duties in the Medical Oncology Specialty Unit (MOSU) and also works in Bloomington public schools, assisting teachers and advocating for special education students.
The Emergency Department team asked for Blessing’s help with a patient who was nonverbal. Blessing developed communication tools to help the patient practice spelling their name and communicate with staff regarding dressing, hygiene, dietary and other needs. Blessing also walked with the patient and bought clothes for them. Those things benefited the patient and staff during the patient’s stay at Carle BroMenn and after their discharge.
“JB is an exceptional employee and a valued member of our team,” Lexi Gammon, Carle BroMenn nurse supervisor for MOSU, pediatrics/infusion, wound/ostomy and palliative care, said. “Her ability to apply her expertise from her teaching in clinical situations is remarkable and was clearly demonstrated in this instance. JB consistently goes above and beyond in her role, always demonstrating a strong commitment to both her patients and her team.”
LEADER
Rachael Schott, manager of the Carle Auxiliary Guest House, Urbana
The Guest House is for families of critical care patients who are far from home and lack the resources for a lengthy hotel stay. Schott identified that some visitors of critical care patients don’t need an overnight stay; they just want a place to take a break, grab a shower and do a load of laundry before returning to the bedside.
A common space in the Guest House was underused. With a $125,000 grant from the Women’s Legacy Circle, Schott and her team converted the common space into a day room. Hospital visitors can reserve it in four-hour increments for a shower, nap and laundry.
Schott also led the development of a new key system, allowing Guest House team members to create and deactivate keys in a moment of need. The new system quickens the process, empowers team members and enhances safety of all.
“These two recent projects are illustrative of how Rachel strives to make the Guest House a special place with extraordinary care,” Eric Toliver, director of Volunteer Services for the Carle Health Center for Philanthropy, said.
TEAM
Carle Health Methodist Hospital Emergency Department
Tamatha “Tami” Johnson was in her final week as a Carle Health Methodist Security guard and about to begin nursing orientation when her husband slid and broke his toe. When he became ill, Johnson brought him to Carle Methodist.
When they arrived, he was taken immediately to a trauma room to be treated by an ED team. The team concluded he was septic and in diabetic ketoacidosis and was transferred to the intensive care unit. After a couple months, he was discharged to return home.
“They saved my husband’s life and shaped my career in a positive direction.” Johnson said. Since then, she has finished her nursing orientation and training and joined the ED team.
“I learned that this is how they treat everyone and I wanted to be part of that,” she said.
EXCELLENCE
Landon Walker, day environmental services tech at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana
One day, a patient coded in a hallway. Walker immediately cleaned the hallway floor to keep everyone safe, to allow the medical team the space to perform CPR and to give the patient and their family dignity. A nurse requested a bed for the patient and Walker and a nurse got one from an empty room and lifted the patient off the floor so the team could continue CPR as the patient was rolled down the hall back into their room.
“None of this surprises me,” Lawanna Williams, Environmental Services day supervisor at Carle Foundation Hospital, said. “Landon always helps where needed. It comes naturally to him.”
Walker said, “I was glad I could help.”
INTEGRITY
Auston Saunier, second shift lead security officer at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal
Saunier was asked to assist police bringing a person from the parking lot into the Emergency Department. Saunier looked at the person and recognized that she was starting to have a seizure.
He immediately took over, helped police get the person into a wheelchair, rushed past the registration desk, told a nurse that the person needed immediate attention and took them directly to a treatment room.
Once in the room, the patient had a seizure and required intubation and stabilizing care. The patient was stabilized and admitted to an inpatient unit.
“If Auston had not assisted the police officers, recognized the severity of the situation and immediately brought the patient to the care area, the patient may have had a much worse outcome,” Marissa Smith, Emergency Department nurse, said.
“He determined, based on his experience, that the person needed immediate care and he took charge to make sure the patient was taken care of and everyone remained safe,” Ryan Homan, Carle BroMenn and Carle Eureka Hospital security supervisor, said.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Julie White, insurance pre-authorization specialist at Carle Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Champaign
Late on a Friday, White, a member of the insurance pre-authorization support team, received a message that a prescription needed to be authorized. She couldn’t get authorization, even though the insurance company said it wasn’t needed. She contacted the pharmacy, which said it still wouldn’t go through. She called the insurance company again at 4:55 p.m. and asked the rep to call the pharmacy. In a three-way call, the pharmacy told the insurance rep that the prescription was a seven-day supply and they wouldn’t get that until Monday.
White told them that wasn’t an option. The young patient had just gotten out of surgery and needed pain management. The insurance rep said a five-day script wouldn’t need prior authorization. A nurse found a pharmacy that had the medication, got the script to be written for five days and the patient’s mother got the medicine.
“Julie spent extra time on Friday night, ensuring that the mother and patient had no further delays or frustrations in care delivery,” Kristi Hanks Shook, patient care manager at Carle Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, said.
INCLUSIVITY
Tina Jones, business services representative in patient access at the Carle Olney Clinic/Convenient Care
A patient needed help figuring out how to navigate the MyCarle app to schedule follow-up appointments and then remembered that they wanted to talk with their doctor about a referral.
Jones scheduled the patient’s follow-up appointment, then talked with the patient’s primary care provider’s office, which provided the referral, so there was no delay in care.
“This is who Tina is,” Kristen Rake, patient access supervisor at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, said. “She goes above and beyond for every patient.”
Join our team
Would you like to work for an organization whose team members go over and above for each other and patients? If so, click here.
Dasha “JB” Blessing, an assistant in the Carle BroMenn Medical Oncology Specialty Unit, created a book to help the patient communicate, spent time with them and even bought them new clothes.
Blessing’s compassionate approach to care enhanced the patient’s ability to communicate and reduced their anxiety, allowing consistency of care at Carle BroMenn and after they were discharged.
Carle Health team members go above and beyond for their team and patients. Each quarter, Carle Health recognizes team members who live the Carle Health Values of Excellence, Integrity, Inclusivity, Compassion and Accountability, as well as Leaders and Teams who embrace all the Values.
Blessing earned the latest quarterly Way to Be! award for Compassion. Her full story and those of all seven Carle Health quarterly Way to Be! winners follow:
COMPASSION
Dasha “JB” Blessing, assistant in the Medical Oncology Specialty Unit at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal
Blessing performs a variety of duties in the Medical Oncology Specialty Unit (MOSU) and also works in Bloomington public schools, assisting teachers and advocating for special education students.
The Emergency Department team asked for Blessing’s help with a patient who was nonverbal. Blessing developed communication tools to help the patient practice spelling their name and communicate with staff regarding dressing, hygiene, dietary and other needs. Blessing also walked with the patient and bought clothes for them. Those things benefited the patient and staff during the patient’s stay at Carle BroMenn and after their discharge.
“JB is an exceptional employee and a valued member of our team,” Lexi Gammon, Carle BroMenn nurse supervisor for MOSU, pediatrics/infusion, wound/ostomy and palliative care, said. “Her ability to apply her expertise from her teaching in clinical situations is remarkable and was clearly demonstrated in this instance. JB consistently goes above and beyond in her role, always demonstrating a strong commitment to both her patients and her team.”
LEADER
Rachael Schott, manager of the Carle Auxiliary Guest House, Urbana
The Guest House is for families of critical care patients who are far from home and lack the resources for a lengthy hotel stay. Schott identified that some visitors of critical care patients don’t need an overnight stay; they just want a place to take a break, grab a shower and do a load of laundry before returning to the bedside.
A common space in the Guest House was underused. With a $125,000 grant from the Women’s Legacy Circle, Schott and her team converted the common space into a day room. Hospital visitors can reserve it in four-hour increments for a shower, nap and laundry.
Schott also led the development of a new key system, allowing Guest House team members to create and deactivate keys in a moment of need. The new system quickens the process, empowers team members and enhances safety of all.
“These two recent projects are illustrative of how Rachel strives to make the Guest House a special place with extraordinary care,” Eric Toliver, director of Volunteer Services for the Carle Health Center for Philanthropy, said.
TEAM
Carle Health Methodist Hospital Emergency Department
Tamatha “Tami” Johnson was in her final week as a Carle Health Methodist Security guard and about to begin nursing orientation when her husband slid and broke his toe. When he became ill, Johnson brought him to Carle Methodist.
When they arrived, he was taken immediately to a trauma room to be treated by an ED team. The team concluded he was septic and in diabetic ketoacidosis and was transferred to the intensive care unit. After a couple months, he was discharged to return home.
“They saved my husband’s life and shaped my career in a positive direction.” Johnson said. Since then, she has finished her nursing orientation and training and joined the ED team.
“I learned that this is how they treat everyone and I wanted to be part of that,” she said.
EXCELLENCE
Landon Walker, day environmental services tech at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana
One day, a patient coded in a hallway. Walker immediately cleaned the hallway floor to keep everyone safe, to allow the medical team the space to perform CPR and to give the patient and their family dignity. A nurse requested a bed for the patient and Walker and a nurse got one from an empty room and lifted the patient off the floor so the team could continue CPR as the patient was rolled down the hall back into their room.
“None of this surprises me,” Lawanna Williams, Environmental Services day supervisor at Carle Foundation Hospital, said. “Landon always helps where needed. It comes naturally to him.”
Walker said, “I was glad I could help.”
INTEGRITY
Auston Saunier, second shift lead security officer at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Normal
Saunier was asked to assist police bringing a person from the parking lot into the Emergency Department. Saunier looked at the person and recognized that she was starting to have a seizure.
He immediately took over, helped police get the person into a wheelchair, rushed past the registration desk, told a nurse that the person needed immediate attention and took them directly to a treatment room.
Once in the room, the patient had a seizure and required intubation and stabilizing care. The patient was stabilized and admitted to an inpatient unit.
“If Auston had not assisted the police officers, recognized the severity of the situation and immediately brought the patient to the care area, the patient may have had a much worse outcome,” Marissa Smith, Emergency Department nurse, said.
“He determined, based on his experience, that the person needed immediate care and he took charge to make sure the patient was taken care of and everyone remained safe,” Ryan Homan, Carle BroMenn and Carle Eureka Hospital security supervisor, said.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Julie White, insurance pre-authorization specialist at Carle Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Champaign
Late on a Friday, White, a member of the insurance pre-authorization support team, received a message that a prescription needed to be authorized. She couldn’t get authorization, even though the insurance company said it wasn’t needed. She contacted the pharmacy, which said it still wouldn’t go through. She called the insurance company again at 4:55 p.m. and asked the rep to call the pharmacy. In a three-way call, the pharmacy told the insurance rep that the prescription was a seven-day supply and they wouldn’t get that until Monday.
White told them that wasn’t an option. The young patient had just gotten out of surgery and needed pain management. The insurance rep said a five-day script wouldn’t need prior authorization. A nurse found a pharmacy that had the medication, got the script to be written for five days and the patient’s mother got the medicine.
“Julie spent extra time on Friday night, ensuring that the mother and patient had no further delays or frustrations in care delivery,” Kristi Hanks Shook, patient care manager at Carle Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, said.
INCLUSIVITY
Tina Jones, business services representative in patient access at the Carle Olney Clinic/Convenient Care
A patient needed help figuring out how to navigate the MyCarle app to schedule follow-up appointments and then remembered that they wanted to talk with their doctor about a referral.
Jones scheduled the patient’s follow-up appointment, then talked with the patient’s primary care provider’s office, which provided the referral, so there was no delay in care.
“This is who Tina is,” Kristen Rake, patient access supervisor at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, said. “She goes above and beyond for every patient.”
Join our team
Would you like to work for an organization whose team members go over and above for each other and patients? If so, click here.
Categories: Culture of Quality
Tags: access, Auxiliary, awards, BroMenn, business, Convenient, Emergency, EVS, Experience, Foundation, Guest, insurance, Methodist, Olney, Orthopedics, patient, Philanthropy, recognitions, Richland, Security, Volunteer