Our department needed to send a patient that did not speak English to the hospital from an outpatient facility for emergent care. The patient had a pre-teen child with along with her at the visit. Carilion transportation  (EMT) could not allow the child to ride along with the patient.  Amber Niday, a clerical staff member at our location, sat with the child until the other parent could make it to get them. Once the other parent arrived, Amber explained the best she could how to get to the hospital but she had a feeling they didn't fully understand.

Jim Bohn, Manager of Carilion Design Group and I were coming back from lunch one day this week. We saw that the Trolley had broken down. Jim reacted very quickly having seen a young couple with two small children standing on the sidewalk. He stopped and asked if they needed a ride. We found out that they had an appointment to which they would be late if they waited for the next Trolley. Jim helped load the stroller into the trunk and the family filed into the back seat. They were so relieved.

Bridgett Rowland RN at CRCH Rehab 7 had a patient that used the last of his fixodent and was upset that he would not have any the next day and his family had already  left for the day so Bridgett took her 30 minute break and went to CVS and bought the patient fixodent . Thanks so much Bridgett for taking great care of your patients. Melinda Kearns RN, CTL

A patient verbalized that the hospital did not have their favorite cereal. Dr. Travedi went out after work to purchase a box and brought it back in that night. Thank you for your compassion, Dr. Travedi, it does not go unnoticed.

Imagine that your dying loved one is admitted to the hospital and no one in your family speaks English.  Employees enter and exit her room using spoken words and body language that you cannot understand.  What are they saying?  Is she suffering?  Is she passing away?  An angel in our presence, CRMH Medical Interpreter Lucia Driscoll, translated life and death communication from advance directives to symptom management.  She was truly torn between continuing to stay and leaving for the evening.  As the nurse, I was comforted for her to return to the hospita

There is a CNA on Med Surg at CGCH that is known all over our hospital for her sweet voice and the kindness she shows to our patients, particularly those who are transitioning from this life to the next. Tammy Via with her beautiful voice often uses her talent to calm and comfort patients by singing to them. Many times Tammy's sweet voice singing is the last thing they hear in this world and what a lovely sound it is.

The following note was submitted by a patient's family member recently:

When I came to the floor the Aide had left without giving me report, The Charge nurse Amy Jeffreys, RN came to the rescue because she saw me stressing, she gave me report, made me laugh and gave me a hug and told me everything will be okay that they would all help me. This woman deserves an award, Thank you Amy!

Submitted by Jessica Fichtner, BSN, RN, CPPS, CFMH Patient Safety Officer

Coming up the hill to work, I saw Wayne helping a man with oxygen into a wheelchair at the front sidewalk.  He was so greatly taking care of this man, picking up his legs and placing them in the wheelchair. So sweet! Just the kind of care that you would see from the most engaged nurse in the world.  In addition to the million things that Wayne does, he stopped to take great care of a patient in need! Wayne definitely has a Servant's Heart!

                Carilion’s parking team is getting a reputation—for kindness, compassion and patience.

I want to WOW Crystal Jennings, Birth Registrar, Mother/Baby, Kristen Jordan, Health Record Analyst, HIM and Jeannie Maxey, Health Record Analyst, HIM and the Clinical Resource Nurses who gathered all of the information that was needed for a grieving family to transport a deceased loved one across state lines.  The above listed RMH employees worked with the Virginia Department of Vital Records, Virginia Department of Health and Oakey's Funeral Home, to get the death certificate correctly completed and gather all the necessary information for the family to take to the Virginia Departmen