Heather Kearns, RN; Jodi Gerstenhaber

PEACE recognition announced

These employees received PEACE (Patient Experience Award for Caring and Excellence) recognition for going above and beyond to meet patients’ and families’ needs.

Heather Kearns, RN, SICU (SP 7-1), was honored for compassionate, patient-centered care of a trauma patient who sustained a life-altering spinal cord injury. Realizing the patient was afraid to be alone due to his immobility, Kearns began coming into work 45 minutes before each shift to sit with the patient and alleviate his anxiety. Upon learning the patient was an avid sports fan, Kearns researched the game schedules of his favorite baseball and football teams, compiled a list of the times and channels and posted it by the TV so the staff could turn it on for the patient to watch. 
 
Jodi Gerstenhaber, pediatric ophthalmic tech/ambulatory care associate, was honored for going above and beyond for a patient’s family. Gerstenhaber, who works at the Pediatric Specialty Center in Norwalk, had picked up an extra shift as a COVID screener at the York Street Campus East Pavilion entrance. A couple had asked the patient ambassador for help finding a family member, but the ambassador was unable to find the patient’s name. Sensing the family’s distress, Gerstenhaber asked the ambassador to search for patients listed in the system as “unidentified.” She then visited the units of each unidentified patient and tracked down the correct one. Thanks to her persistence, the family was able to visit their loved one and provide important information to the care team about his identity. 

All employees, physicians and volunteers are eligible for the monthly PEACE recognition. Send nominations to: [email protected].