7 South Nursing Assistant Gladys Bleedy!

The nomination Gladys received is below: 

Our members notice that everyone who works at Carilion Wellness Westlake is great, but one member stopped by to say that Courtney Farren is something REALLY special!

Last week, while she was acting as lifeguard, a man came in who needed help getting in and out of the pool. Courtney got off the stand and helped him. When he needed to stop to take a break, members noticed Courtney was patient and then continued to help him into the pool. 

Amanda Farmer was nominated by a family member of a patient she cared for and another from a patient. The care she provides is amazing and the committee she has to her patients and family members is like no other. Here is what her patients and family members wrote:

Patient Family Member: 

Brieanne Hamm is the jack of all trades. Not only is she a Recreational Therapist, she is an artist that inspires. Brie always encourages our patients to speak through their own individual artistic abilities. Every holiday/season, Brie paints the recreation therapy room window to provide a more home-like feel. Her artistic flare and ability to involve all patients in therapy is second to none. Thank you for all you do! Your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. You are truly a work of "hART!"

Can we talk about the bedside manner of a very busy attending doctor?!?  I walked in a patient's room during lunch to assist the patient with her tray.  I found Dr Eric Chen cutting up chicken and offering to put sour cream and fix her a fajita.  He also took extra time to answer all of her questions.  When he left the room the patient said, "Wow, that is a great doctor!"

Our special house keeper helps the RN's and Tech's with out even asking. Dee is one in a million. She came to the rescue when a patient started feeling dizzy and needed vitals done asap. She flow into action wanting to know what she could do to help. She is very special to all of us over on the 4th floor at the rehab. Thank you for doing the things you do they don't go unnoticed!    

I am thrilled to announce that Lisa Dishner, MSN, MHA, RN-BC, NEA-BC, Interim Senior Director of Nursing for Carilion Clinic's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, has won the Behavioral Health Nurse of the Year award.  Lisa was chosen out of all nurses in Virginia!  It's truly an honor to work with such an amazing individual who radiates kindness, compassion and empathy wherever she goes!

On Tuesday Nov 19 OR services had an elderly lady here from Marion Virginia.  She had surgical procedure and placement of wound vac.  The pt incidentally forgot the wound vac charger.   This tragedy was discovered on cleaning of the room after the pt was gone. Attempts to call were unsuccessful to cell phone until later in the evening when she was reached on a landline.  Our unit secretary "Carol Henderson" who spoke with this lady on the phone worried that her machine would cut off and be an issue with this post surgery wound.

Carilion Clinic New River Valley Hospice participated in the Town of Christiansburg's Veterans Day Parade on Monday, November 11. As a part of the 'We Honor Veterans' program the team looks for ways to honor not only our veteran patients, but also those in the communities we serve. Thank you Treasa Rigney, Volunteer Coordinator Assistant, for coordinating our "march" in the parade!

CGCH speech therapist, Cari Vest, SLP, displayed amazing compassion for a patient and his family during his final days.  Cari was treating this patient as his health rapidly declined due to a progressive motor neuron disease causing him to completely lose his ability to speak.  After discharging him from outpatient services, Cari continued to visit this patient at home on her free time to simply check on him and ensure that the phrases he needed most were programmed into his speech device.  During his last week, Cari made a trip to UVA Medical Center to assist with