May in Northern Michigan is a special a time for our region, when we say goodbye to another long winter and welcome everything that spring brings—warmer weather, longer days, and landscapes in full bloom. At Munson Healthcare, we also look forward to May, but for a couple of different reasons: National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week, or as we call it “Healthcare Team Week.” These annual celebrations emphasize how important it is to care for the people who are caring for others.
Just in time for Healthcare Team week, it was announced May 6 that all eligible Munson Healthcare hospitals—including Munson Medical Center in Traverse City—received “A” grades from the Leapfrog Group for the quality and safety of our care. To put it in context, Munson Healthcare was the only healthcare system in Michigan with all “A” grades and this puts us in the top quartile nationally for safety and quality. This recognition is a testament to the doctors, nurses and highly skilled teams who work tirelessly to improve the lives of our patients and keep our communities safe and healthy. Needless to say, these grades give us even more to celebrate during our special recognition weeks.
“Healthcare Team Week” is now in full swing in our hospitals and clinics with free meals and special treats for all staff, along with fun activities, prizes and ongoing recognition. However, these celebrations will wrap up by the end of the week, not providing nearly enough time to recognize the extraordinary work of our teams. But stories, like the ones shared below—of compassionate care from the team I’m honored to work with—leave a lasting impact throughout the year:
A family experienced a devastating house fire and were unable to retrieve personal items including clothing. A unit clerk assisted in gathering clothing items for the family and even offered her own coat.
A patient receiving near end-of-life care wanted to have his face shaved clean. A nursing assistant got a hot cloth, prepped his face, found a razor, and with so much care and dignity, shaved the patient’s face.
A patient suffered a heart attack while he was being assisted in the shower by a nurse. The nurse reacted instantly, transferring the patient back to the bed and immediately initiating CPR until help arrived. Later that day, the patient was talking and on the road to recovery.
For the holidays, a doctor asked his family for donations for gift cards instead of buying him presents. He purchased $350 worth of Visa cards that were used for patients who needed gas money to get to their appointments.
The staff at one of our clinics went the extra mile to get a patient an appointment for the next day. When they discovered the patient needed help in and out of a car, the team also arranged for the Fire Department to provide a lift assist before and after the appointment.
The wife of a patient thanked one of our cooks, for “making food to feed our souls. My husband had several hospitalizations, and I looked forward to getting one of your bowls filled with warm goodness. Often, I waited in line and I saw you were kind, uplifting and encouraging to all you served.”
A patient needed a last-minute EKG before starting chemotherapy at our cancer center. An EKG technician and a patient financial specialist worked together to have the test brought to the patient rather than making him go back to the hospital and delaying his treatment.
A dying patient wanted to make it home to say goodbye to his beloved dog, Daisy, but it was clear that wasn’t possible. A nurse helped arrange for the patient’s dog to come to the hospital and say goodbye to “her person,” ensuring the patient received his final wish.
There are so many more stories like these worthy of celebration and as Nurses Week and Healthcare Team Week come to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Munson Healthcare team. The role you play in our organization is an important one and what you do matters to so many. Healthcare is hard work and not everyone is cut out for it. I want to thank you for showing up every day for Munson, your coworkers and teams—and most importantly, our patients.