As a Virtual Observation Monitor, I sometimes witness some troubling scenes. Today's troubling scene was also somewhat inspirational. We had a patient who had delirium and became angry and violent towards her care staff. The patient's RN, Allyson Dayton, was unfortunately taking the brunt of the patient's abuse. It's a shame the amount of violent behavior directed at care staff. I witnessed as this nurse was cussed at and punched in the arm (not to mention all of the attempts to slap, kick, and bite her).

I want to give a HUGE thank you to our incredible Police and Security Teams for their dedication and hard work launching the new weapons detection system at our hospital entrances. 🙌

We recognize that this is a big change, and with it comes a few growing pains—but your efforts are not going unnoticed. Your presence and proactive approach are helping make our hospital a safer place for patients, visitors, and staff.

Thank you for standing at the front lines of safety every single day. We appreciate you! 💙

Forward Friday Spotlight: Looking Ahead with Purpose

As Patient Experience Week comes to a close, we take this moment not to wrap things up, but to look ahead. Because the journey to exceptional care doesn’t end here—it continues with each interaction, each act of kindness, and each step forward in our commitment to those we serve.

I just want to take a moment to recognize how proud I am of my co-worker, Danielle Keen, RN. She truly excelled during a tough shift last night and handled everything thrown her way with remarkable skill and composure. 

Her ability to tackle challenges head-on and support the team made a significant difference. It’s inspiring to see someone work so hard and maintain such a positive attitude, even when things got hectic. 

Thank you, Danielle, RN, for your dedication and for being such a reliable team player! You make a real impact, and we appreciate you!

Dr. Bonnie Hennig-Trestman, director of Carilion’s Huntington’s Disease Program, has once again demonstrated her elite fencing skills by earning a gold medal at the April 2025 North American Cup Fencing Tournament in Los Angeles, California.

CGCH Pharmacy recognizes Joe for his excellent patient care and attention to medication safety for an anxious ED patient undergoing a CT.  He helped the patient to remain calm through the procedure without medication intervention.

Congratulations to Dr. Susan Dorsey from Carilion Clinic Dermatology for winning a $25 gift card in our first quarter phish reporting campaign. Each quarter, the Information Security Team randomly selects a user who reported a phishing email using the "Report Phish" button on Outlook to receive a $25 gift card of their choice. Reporting suspected phishing helps us block similar emails and gives you a chance to win a prize!

Tatianna Madison noted that a front office staff member had just taken oral contrast to a patient and remarked that the most recent patient to be checked in was a CT Enterography. This particular exam requires a different type of oral contrast and she noticed this quickly enough that we were able to stop the patient from drinking the wrong contrast! The patient would not have been scannable if they had begun drinking the regular oral contrast, so Tatianna saved the patient a reschedule and additional trips to our office. Great work Tatianna, you make us proud!

CFMH ED Staff Shenika Bowles, Brook Brown, Taylor Greenway, and Cindy Newby demonstrated teamwork, communication, collaboration, and courage as they advocated for their patient through the night and into the next day. Their efforts truly made a difference in the life and outcome of their patient. Thank you for all you do!

It was a pleasure to award Officer Shondel Younger with one of the highest honors for police officers, the Valor Award. Officer Younger's swift action on Christmas Day effectively neutralized a significant safety threat to staff in the RMH ED. We are grateful for the daily courage and dedication of our police officers. Chief Ed Watkins