Providing extraordinary care means thinking beyond a patient’s illness and caring for the total patient.

At Duke Hospital, we have an overarching commitment to excellence, guided by our desire to improve the lives of the patients who come to us because they trust us to do what is right. We take their trust to heart, and we take our commitment to patient-centered care very seriously. The key to providing extraordinary care is assembling the right team to serve the mission.

At Duke Hospital, we not only seek out employees who have the expertise to perform technically, utilizing innovative technologies and procedures to deliver safe, quality care; we seek out extraordinary people who know that all members of our team are, in their own way, providers of care. And yet, even among this team of extraordinary people, there are those who seek to go the extra mile. And these are their stories.

On this page are the winners of Duke Hospital’s Strength, Hope, and Caring awards from September 2005 to August 2006. The program was developed to honor employees whose extraordinary care reflects the ideals that are valued in our organization. Their strength bears up those who need support. Their hope stands in for those whose hope has failed. Their caring has changed lives. And it is an honor to share their extraordinary stories with you.

Christina Barkauskas, MD
Stephanie Barnes
Thomas Bashore, MD
Kevin Browning
Vicki Burnett
Bobbie Caraher, RN
CHC Third Floor
Brian Coan, MD
Duke CT Group
Tony Elliott
Engineering and Operations
Traywood Evans
Loretta Ezell, RN, BSN
Ginger Harris
Jeffrey Hodrick, MD
ICN Team
Michelle Johnson
Sherry Keck
Cindy Lawrence, RN and Karen Setliff, RN
Jeffrey R. Marcus, MD
Denise McKay
Beth McLendon
Annie McManus
Debbie Morse, FNP
Sharon Norman, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNS
Betty Pearce, RN
John Petersen, MD
Jane Pleasants
Senthilkumar (Senthil) Radhakrishnan
Mike Reidy, MD
Teresa Rice
John Scarborough, MD
Unit 2200, Unit 2300, Emergency Department
Unit 5300
Unit 6100
Valet
Cameron Wells
Wound Management

Christina Barkauskas, MD
Internal Medicine
Years of Service: 2
Physician Award

Dr. Christina Barkauskas’s nominator wrote: “Christina is one of the most hardworking individuals I have ever met. She works tirelessly and seemingly endlessly. All the while she remains enthusiastic and extraordinarily pleasant! She is a fantastic role model. In short, Christina embodies the ideal Duke resident. Christina also shows superior bedside manner; she stayed beyond the expected time to be with a dying patient and his family. She provided them with excellent, professional medical care and compassion. When she finally signed out the patient to another resident, each family member hugged her. It is clear that she had an impact on each of their lives. She deserves extra recognition for her superb patient care.”

Stephanie Barnes
Health Unit Coordinator
Unit 9200
Years of Service: 19
Non-Clinical Award

Due to multiple call-outs, two areas already challenged by a high volume of physician orders due to patient acuity and census were being covered by only one health unit coordinator (HUC). When 9200 HUC Stephanie Barnes was told that the units needed help with coverage, she volunteered to postpone her lunch break in order to help ensure that unit staff and patients received the support they needed. For her commitment to the team spirit, Stephanie received a Non-Clinical Strength, Hope, and Caring award.

Thomas Bashore, MD
Cardiac Catheterization Lab
Years of Service: 21
Physician Award

The Heart Care Team wrote: “Dr. Bashore has been traveling with the mobile cardiac catheterization lab for the last 15 years. This is a commitment in itself. He is extremely compassionate to the community patients. He has a strong desire to not inconvenience the patients, nor the community physicians, in getting the patients seen. At times he has cathed seven patients in one day. He travels an hour by plane to get to see the patients. On November 21, the weather was extremely bad, and the plane could not get out of RDU. Since there were already patients scheduled and waiting for the mobile team, Dr. Bashore decided that he would drive the staff and the physicians to Whiteville, North Carolina, to perform cardiac catheterizations and to hold a cardiology clinic. The drive takes three hours and 15 minutes. He was determined not to cancel that day because patients, physicians, and the community were depending on this service. We also found out later that he was on vacation, but because there was no physician to cover, he came in. We feel this is just one of the many contributions he makes to Duke University Hospital.”

Kevin Browning
PRMO
Years of Service: 11
Non-Clinical Award

While outside on his afternoon break, Kevin Browning noticed a car parked behind the building was still running, and a door to the car was open. He realized that the lone person in the car was having a seizure. Browning ran inside the building, asked a co-worker to call 911, and then went back to the car to support the patient until the paramedics arrived.

Vicki Burnett
Radiation Therapist
Radiation Oncology
Years of Service: 15
Clinical Award

Vicki demonstrated that she is very alert and attuned to patient care and safety. She used her concern for safety to prevent an intruder from coming into contact with patients and stealing a purse. When she saw the intruder, who had come in through a patio door, she immediately yelled “stop,” had someone call 911, and pursued him. Working with the Duke Police, Vicki helped ensure that the intruder was caught quickly and the purse was returned. We thank Vicki for her immediate grasp of the situation and genuine attention to all of the needs of her patients.

Bobbie Caraher, RN
Unit 5200
Years of Service: 4
Clinical Award

A patient’s parent had innumerable wonderful things to say in her nomination of Bobbie Caraher, RN, for a Strength, Hope, Caring award. The patient’s mother wrote: “Bobbie treats every small pain or problem of her patients with fresh, sincere concern. When the doctors visited on their daily rounds, our daughter used to growl at them; when other nurses asked her questions, she would answer in monosyllables. But her feelings about Bobbie were encapsulated one night when she woke up out of a deep sleep, saw Bobbie in the darkness, burst into a smile, and opened her arms to hug her. I think that was the first spontaneous gesture of affection I’d ever seen her extend to a medical person. A few days later, our daughter’s first words upon waking up in the morning were, ‘When is Bobbie coming again?’”

CHC Third Floor
Team Award

This team consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty to care for our pediatric patients and their families. The team’s nominator, who is also a member of the team, wrote: “The expressions ‘This is not my job’ or ‘Why do I need to do that?’ or ‘I will not do it’ are not part of our team’s culture. Instead, we all rise to the occasion. We work in unison like a well-oiled machine.” For their many, detailed stories of compassionate care, the team was honored with a Strength, Hope, and Caring award.

Brian Coan, MD
Surgery
Years of Service: 1
Physician Award

He was not on call -- and he was at home -- but when a patient needed immediate help, Dr. Brian Coan stepped up to the plate. Dr. Coan’s nominator wrote: “He was at his home, but while talking to the patient, Dr. Coan looked up the xrays on his computer at home and went over what the patient needed to do... Even though Dr. Coan had never met the patient, he really wanted to be sure he got the best care.”

Duke CT Group
Team Award

When a water line in the ceiling of the room that housed a CT scanner broke, a large amount of water rushed into the room. The CT team rushed into action to protect the well-being of the patient who was on the CT scanner and also took special care of other patients who were waiting for scans. Team members cut off the power to the scanner and rushed the patient safely out of the room and over to the North CT scanner, so that his tests could be completed. There were several other patients waiting to be scanned who also had to be moved to North CT; in the meantime, the staff moved the patients to a safe area, kept them informed about what was happening, and made them as comfortable as possible. The team’s nominator commended all employees who helped during the event, and wrote of the CT Team: “I determined that we would continue with our schedule for the next day with one scanner available. I had the other scanners at North ready to help when needed. Everyone in CT both North and South worked wonderfully together to get all the patients scanned on the day after the flood, and the next day without a huge delay.”

Tony Elliott
Clinical Pharmacist
Morris Outpatient Pharmacy
Years of Service: 5
Non-Clinical Award

Tony Elliott’s nominator wrote: “I cannot think of a more deserving person for a Strength, Hope, and Caring award. I had a patient to be discharged who was on crutches and unable to get over to Duke South Outpatient Pharmacy to get his prescription. He was not discharged until 5:30 p.m., and he asked where the pharmacy was. That was when the care nurse brought it to my attention. I called the treatment room -- to get the hours for the outpatient pharmacy so that he could come back in the morning to get it -- and Rita Deimler told me to call a gentleman named Tony.

“I had the true pleasure of speaking with him. He not only was able to share the hours with me, but he even went into the pharmacy to see if the prescription was there to be picked up, as we thought it had been faxed over. It hadn’t been. Then, to my shock and amazement, he said that he would fill the prescription if I could get him the insurance information and fax him the prescription. I nearly fell to the floor, but did as he asked. Then the icing on the cake -- Tony Elliott brought the prescription over to my patient on 9100 to save the frustration of having to try to find the pharmacy. The patient was not one of many resources and was only able to pay cash, so Mr. Elliott actually put the prescription on his own credit card and accepted the cash payment from the patient.

“Shocked -- amazed -- and humbled by this gentleman’s generosity and kindness. He seems truly committed to the care of our patients, and I just didn’t want it to go unnoticed. It’s the people like him that make us all look good! I hope each of you takes a minute to thank him should you cross paths with him!”

Engineering and Operations
Team Award

A Duke Hospital team member wrote: “Dona Reilly and her team made a family’s dream come true. This team created a new bedroom for the only male (12 years old) in a house full of women (four) within this family’s tight living space. Two family members have significant medical issues. Team members used personal time, came to work after working the night shift, and came to work on weekends. Skanska donated materials; other vendors also contributed. Some workers were visible; others operated behind the scenes, like the person who facilitated getting all the building permits. This project started December 9 and was completed December 24. One thing is true -- this was a major undertaking by a group of compassionate people.

Traywood Evans
Health Unit Coordinator, Advanced
8200
Years of Service: 28
Non-Clinical Award

When a patient who was discharged from Duke Hospital and admitted to Durham Regional left behind some personal items, Traywood Evans volunteered to deliver the items to the patient. For his kind consideration for the patient, he received March’s Non-Clinical award. His nominator wrote, “I think Traywood should be commended for this wonderful act of kindness as this really portrays that patients are first. Thanks, Tray, for being so thoughtful.”

Loretta Ezell, RN, BSN
Clinical Operations Director II
Dialysis/Apheresis
Leadership Award

A sudden turn of emergencies that left the Peritoneal Dialysis Program short of staff and leadership immediately prompted Loretta Ezell to position herself to continue the operation of the program. She assigned another certified nephrology nurse to help her keep the program operational and to ensure that they continued to meet clinical and regulatory guidelines. They enlisted training to maintain the program competencies and contacted a health-care resource team for backup until additional staff was in place to meet the demands of this growing program. As a result of her leadership, there was not a change in the operation of the peritoneal dialysis program for the patients, the patients’ families, or the physicians.

Ginger Harris
Administrative Coordinator
Emergency Medical Services
Years of Service: 15

Non-Clinical Award Ginger Harris was nominated for a Strength, Hope, and Caring award for her continuous efforts to work with insurance companies to lessen the financial burdens to families whose loved ones are dying. According to her nominator, Harris, an emergency medical coordinator for Emergency Services, goes above and beyond to care for families. Her nominator wrote: “Each instance of transport has a patient with a story. Ginger’s insulated vantage from the patients and her financial responsibilities could easily keep her focused strictly on reimbursement issues and still perform well within her official duties. But Ginger consistently is able to ‘care’ for each patient and impact their lives in ways that they may be entirely unaware of. Ginger performs her job in a manner that displays a commitment that few people may understand or acknowledge. She extends the Duke philosophy of total patient care in a very nontraditional way. And many times the patient is unaware of the efforts being made on his or her behalf. For this effort, she receives nothing but the satisfaction of knowing that she was able to lessen one area of impact on the family’s life when they lose a loved one.” And for her sincere efforts, Duke Hospital honors Ginger Harris with a Strength, Hope, and Caring award.

Jeffrey Hodrick, MD
Orthopaedics
Years of Service: 4
Physician Award

Dr. Jeffrey Hodrick showed extraordinary compassion and sensitivity to a child whose history of abuse resulted in blindness. Understanding that the child had trust issues, he explained step-by-step the dressing change he had to perform as she assisted him. Following the procedure, the child showed that he had, indeed, won her trust when she asked him to read her a story.

ICN Team
Team Award

The ICN Team received a Strength, Hope, and Caring award for supporting a member of their team who received the tragic news of the sudden passing of her father. The team’s nominator wrote: “The nurses on this night shift jumped in and immediately went to work. One took the details from the caller, two made flight and travel arrangements, several covered the patient assignments, two took the nurse home and left her car. One stayed with her to pack and get her on her flight. This show of compassion and love exemplifies how a nursing family embraces its own -- through strength, hope, and caring.”

Michelle Johnson
Physician Extender
Cardiology
Years of Service: 15
Clinical Award

A patient’s grandmother wrote: “My granddaughter was referred by her primary doctor to see a cardiologist. The first available appointment was not until January 10, which was the second day she was to return to college after the holidays. She was very stressed about missing her classes on that day since this was the beginning of a new semester. Michelle asked for my granddaughter’s instructors’ names and contact information so that she could notify them of her absence. Not only did she send an e-mail, but she also got my granddaughter’s class assignments for that day and e-mailed them to her.

“Michelle’s expressions of caring and compassion and really taking an extra step to help relieve my granddaughter’s anxiety exemplify her commitment to patients.”

Sherry Keck
Nurse Clinician
Department of Advanced
Clinical Practice
Years of Service: 1
Clinical Award

Sherry Keck’s nominator wrote: “Sherry saw a patient on the pain service who was mildly sedated. But, being an advanced practice clinician, she was not satisfied and went on to do a neuro exam. During this exam, she detected changes that no one had seen before. These findings were subtle, but as a result of Sherry’s conviction, the patient underwent a CT scan. A subdural hematoma was seen, which on history was probably the result of a fall before hospitalization. This level of clinical expertise and caring should be recognized.”

Cindy Lawrence, RN and Karen Setliff, RN
Duke Lung Transplant Center
Team Award

A patient’s husband wrote: “My wife passed away on August 14, 2005. I am writing this letter in an attempt to express the gratitude which she and I have for the people at Duke who gave us more than nine additional years together. When she received her transplant, she and I were ‘adopted’ by the whole lung transplant team -- particularly by transplant coordinators Cindy Lawrence and Karen Setliff. I am sure my wife was not singled out by Cindy and Karen. It is simply their caring nature that has guided them through their life’s work as they give the best of themselves to each and every patient.”

Pictured left: Cindy Lawrence

Jeffrey R. Marcus, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics
Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery and Craniofacial Surgery
Years of Service: 4
Physician Award

A patient’s father wrote that Jeffrey Marcus was the first doctor he had ever taken his adult son to who was willing to treat his child’s unique condition. The patient has a hemangioma that involves the entire side of his face -- including his eye and mouth. He would get very painful sores on his lip that would take weeks to heal -- but most doctors were reluctant to try to reduce the large size of the patient’s impacted lip. When the family came to Duke for the first time, Dr. Marcus examined the patient and said that he could, and would, perform the surgery.

“Hats off to Dr. Jeffrey Marcus and all of the staff that helped,” wrote the patient’s father. “My child does not have to endure that heavy lip any longer... We consider Dr. Marcus the best we have ever seen.”

Denise McKay
Emergency Department Coordinator III
Years of Service: 11
Non-Clinical Award

After asking why a patient had been sitting in the ED waiting room for so long, Denise McKay was told that the woman could not reach her family members and did not have money to get home. Denise asked the woman where she lived, called a cab, and paid the driver to take the patient home. Her thoughtful gesture was rewarded with invaluable thanks from the patient and was honored with a Strength, Hope, and Caring award.

Beth McLendon
Arvik, PharmD
Assistant Director of Pharmacy
Director, Pharmacy Practice Residency
Years of Service: 10 Years
Clinical Award

While in the Duke North cafeteria, Beth noticed a young boy trying to find a table for his grandfather. The child’s grandfather, a Duke patient, was in a wheelchair and had one leg extended in a cast, which made it difficult for the family to eat lunch together. Another family member was in line paying for their lunch. Beth got up from her lunch and asked the young boy if she could help. She then secured a table for them, moved chairs, and got the child and his grandfather seated just as the other family member arrived with their lunch. Beth took the time to listen to the young boy and help him get what he really wanted: to enjoy lunch at a table with his family.

Annie McManus
Medical Secretary
Kidney Transplant
Years of Service: 36
Non-Clinical Award

Annie McManus’s nominator wrote: “A kidney transplant patient was scheduled for a clinic visit in January. Her husband called the kidney transplant office that morning because he was lost trying to get to Duke. Ms. McManus spoke with the gentleman, and during the conversation she sensed that he was becoming increasingly frustrated as she tried to ascertain where he was. He could not tell her where he was, and she started naming landmarks close to Duke. He remembered passing a BP station. Ms. McManus asked the gentleman if he could get back to the BP station. He stated that he could. She told him that she would come and lead him to Duke, and she drove her car to the BP station. Prior to leading the patient to Duke, she asked what clinic they were going to. Neither the patient nor her husband could tell her. She asked to see their letter. When she read the letter, it was clear that the patient was supposed to be on North Duke Street for a cardiology evaluation for transplant. At this time Ms. McManus knew that the couple was too upset and frustrated and that they would not be able to get to North Duke Street. She led them to the North Duke Street Clinic. Fortunately, the couple had left home extremely early, and the patient’s appointment was not until 1:45 p.m. It was 1:00 p.m. when they arrived at the clinic. Ms. McManus escorted them in to make sure that they got to the right location. She also asked in the clinic if anyone could provide this couple with a map to assist them in returning home. She asked the couple for their address and waited while the clinic personnel printed a map from Mapquest. After ensuring that they had a map and that they were in the correct place, Ms. McManus reported back to the kidney transplant office on Elba Street to continue her work as a medical secretary.”

Debbie Morse, FNP
Duke Eye Center
Years of Service: 20
Clinical Award

When three of four care providers in the pre-op at Duke Eye Center were unavailable due to unavoidable circumstances, Debbie Morse, FNP, readily stepped in and saw all the patients that had been scheduled for the day.

Sharon Norman, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNS
PICU Clinical Nurse Specialist
Department of Advanced Clinical Practice
Years of Service: 2
Leadership Award

Sharon’s nominators commended her leadership with the rollouts of the new Alaris pumps and Prismaflex machines. The nominators wrote: “Sharon has consistently set the standard for excellence in practice, as well as remained grounded in the challenges of day-to-day patient care... One example of Sharon’s commitment to patient care and staff competency is the rollout of the new Prismaflex machines (used for fluid management and renal replacement therapies). Sharon was instrumental to this transition. She helped develop the educational materials, set up the classes, and instruct the front-line staff. With the rollout, although Sharon’s main focus is pediatrics, she went to all the areas -- 2200, 3200, 7200 -- to ensure that staff felt comfortable. Her presence was incredibly supportive to the staff in all areas.

“For her willingness to work outside of personal areas of responsibility, we feel Sharon is a shining example of strength, hope, and caring.”

Betty Pearce, RN
Clinical Nurse III
Perianesthesia Care Unit
Years of Service: 19
Clinical Award

Betty Pearce’s nominator wrote: “In November, a patient was emergently brought from the floor to PACU for management of an acute bleed. This was not the typical PACU patient, and the unit was more than full with PACU staff managing intubated ICU patients in addition to the scheduled elective population. Betty was returning from her assignment in the Children’s PACU when she encountered the OHN team attempting to manage the bleed. She not only immediately offered assistance to the physicians but also reassured the patient, who quickly asked for her name. When Betty told her, there was an almost tactile reduction in the stress and anxiety of the patient. Betty and the patient had worked together years ago, and the patient found Betty’s presence most comforting. Once the situation was under control, Betty found the patient’s family members, who visited her in the PACU. “Betty stayed almost 14 hours that day, and when I thanked her for her help, she simply stated ‘that’s what it’s all about -- taking care of the patient.’ I therefore wish to nominate her for a Strength, Hope, and Caring award for exemplifying the essence of nursing with both compassion and excellence.”

John Petersen, MD
Internal Medicine
Years of Service: 2
Physician Award

Dr. John Petersen’s nominator, who is also a physician, wrote: “Dr. Petersen demonstrated a level of professionalism and compassion that goes well beyond the norm. He independently took responsibility for meeting with a patient’s entire family and extended family when much confusion ensued regarding an expected transplant that did not occur due to a problem with the compatibility of the donor liver and recipient. John, after spending a great deal of time getting to the bottom of the situation, gathered the family at the patient’s request and explained everything and answered all of their questions. He had done all of this even before I had a chance to see the patient. By the time I saw the patient, the family was calm and well informed. He truly made a difference in the patient’s well-being in addition to expertly managing the patient’s other medical problems.

“Another example of John’s compassion was evident when his sister team, GM4, had a critically ill patient who was dying. Another resident, who had already spent hours attending to the family and patient, asked John, who was on call, to assist in providing continuity to the patient and family in his final hours. John went into the room with us and spent time getting to know the family and circumstances. He demonstrated great compassion, and when we left the room I felt completely comfortable that this family and patient would be able to rely on John for their needs. The patient did pass away later that night, and there is no doubt in my mind that Dr. Petersen’s attention made a difficult time in the life of that family a little easier.

“These are only two examples of what I consistently saw throughout my two weeks as his general medicine attending. John is incredibly bright but is also a truly compassionate individual.”

Jane Pleasants
Assistant Vice President of Procurement/Supply Chain Management
Procurement Services/Administration
Years of Service: 7
Leadership Award

While walking down a hallway in Duke South, Jane Pleasants noticed a couple that appeared to need exceptionally urgent assistance. She guided the couple to the nearest office and helped them to get the expedient care they needed.

Senthilkumar (Senthil) Radhakrishnan
Physician Assistant
Division of Advanced Practice Providers
Years of Service: 2
Clinical Award

From day one, co-workers have praised Senthil for going that extra mile for his patients and the neurosurgery team. A coworker wrote about a particular patient and the patient’s family and how they relied on Senthil’s continuous presence and special, compassionate care: “The patient was admitted to neurosurgery numerous times over a six-month period. He and his family, a wife and two small children, took an apartment in Durham to be close to Duke for his treatments. He was of international descent, and Senthil could speak the same dialect as the patient’s in-laws. Senthil addressed the patient’s family’s concerns, speaking with them many times. When the patient passed away, the family had a nurse call Senthil, who not only came but also arranged for a priest to perform a ceremony the family had requested. This was Senthil’s day off, and he stayed with the family for four hours. Thank you, Senthil, for providing compassionate, continuous care to complex neurosurgical patients and their families.”

Mike Reidy, MD
Pulmonary Medicine
Years of Service: 7
Physician Award

Dr. Mike Reidy made a house call and followed up to ensure the health and wellbeing of a Duke staff member’s 80-year-old aunt. The staff member was in Mississippi, participating in disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Her aunt had recently fled New Orleans and was in North Carolina, at the staff member’s home. Thanks to Dr. Reidy’s kindness, the staff member did not have to worry about her aunt, who was safely in Dr. Reidy’s care.

Teresa Rice
Clinical Staff Pharmacist
OPC Pharmacy
Years of Service: 6
Clinical Award

Teresa Rice is known for the extra care she provides to patients. She received several nominations for her compassionate care. One nominator, a Duke Hospital employee, wrote: “Teresa is bright, cordial, and able to assist patients in an understanding of the very complicated process of Medicare. She goes above and beyond the call of duty... She helped a gentleman from a very rural part of another state with his struggle to understand Medicare Part D. The patient and his wife left the pharmacy with a plan in place that will provide him with the possibility of getting his much-needed meds in the future. I have never turned to Teresa with a problem that she didn’t handle gladly and well... Teresa always makes things go right for our patients, and I thought you would want to hear that from a consumer -- and colleague.”

John Scarborough, MD
Surgery
Years of Service: 8
Physician Award

A patient’s family member wrote: “Recently my father was transferred to Duke from a small, rural hospital. He had a very serious condition requiring surgery. I am sorry to say he passed away. It is never easy making decisions about a loved one’s life or experiencing the emotional pain of watching them give their all to recover... During this difficult time, John was compassionate, not only with my father but also with my family. There were times when we felt like he was going to pass away at any minute, and John would work very aggressively to help him. We knew my father had a small chance of survival, but as long as there was a chance, John gave his all to help him.

“An illness to those lucky enough to have a caring family is an illness that affects the entire family, not just the patient. John treated the family. My 15-yearold daughter was experiencing the dying of a loved one for the first time and was having a very difficult time. John picked this up and spent time with her, explaining everything that was happening. He encouraged her to ask questions and talk. While she is still grieving for her grandfather, she is dealing with his death as well as anyone could.

“My mother found making decisions difficult during this time and asked that my brother and I make most of the decisions. John was very kind to her and did not pressure her into making decisions. He worked with the family again to get care decisions. My mom thinks he is a great person and cannot quit talking about the wonderful care that Duke provided her husband of 53 years. Through her loss she believes my father received the best care humanly possible.

“John also went out of his way to help my mother, who needed a catheterization but delayed it because of my father’s health. He arranged for her to have a cath done at Duke, which resulted in a stent placement. He handled all of the details. I just had to get her to the right place at the right time. Even though she was not his patient, I must reiterate, he treated the family.

“John was always available. He gave us his personal cell phone and pager numbers and encouraged us to call him anytime for any reason. He came in on his days off to check on my father. He called us at home any time there was a significant change in his condition. He also called daily to update us on his condition. He even told us when he was going to be off, or having dinner with his parents, but still encouraged us to call him if we needed to. He supported my brother and me as we made difficult decisions and genuinely understood the pains we were experiencing. If we raised questions or wanted a second opinion, John would make the necessary contact for us immediately. He treated us as individuals, not just another person making a decision about a dying patient.

“As the moment came when we made the decision not to resuscitate my father, we were as prepared as we could be because of the kind and nurturing way John cared for my family. Even the night Daddy died, John was there with us, supporting and caring for us, even though his patient had passed away. Death is never easy, and I am still grieving. But thank God for people like John Scarborough and a place like Duke.”

Unit 2200, Unit 2300, Emergency Department
Team Award

A patient’s family member nominated the collaborative teams from 2200, 2300, and the Emergency Department for their gentle, comprehensive care of her father -- a longtime Duke employee. From the moment the patient was brought into the Emergency Department following an accident, the teams sprang into action to care for him. The patient’s family member complimented the comprehensive care her family received from the beginning -- from the care staff, chaplains, and social workers in the ED -- and lauded the care provided by the teams on 2200 and 2300. The patient, hospitalized for many months, received care that his daughter described as befitting “a foreign dignitary,” adding that she “could write a book about the small and large gestures of kindness” that she has seen at Duke. So it is fitting that we celebrate the extraordinary story of this collaboration and honor their teamwork.

Unit 5300
Team Award

This team’s nominator wrote: “5300 has quite a few chronic patients who become like their own children. Last summer, one of these patients passed away after spending most of his life on 5300. The staff on 5300 gathered enough money to pay for the funeral because his family could not. He did not, however, have a headstone because there was not enough money collected to pay for it. His grave had a piece of cardboard with a handwritten name on it to mark the grave. In December, 5300 had a silent auction/bake sale to raise the funds to pay for the gravestone. The staff donated their time and energy as well as items made, bought, or bartered to raise the funds. In the end, enough money was raised to purchase the head marker.”

Unit 6100
Team Award

This group of nurses, therapists, PRMs, PAs, and support personnel has created a sense of pride and expertise in the care of orthopaedic patients. This dedication has resulted in improved patient satisfaction through innovation in pain management, utilization of new technologies, and responsiveness to care needs. Thank you Unit 6100, for being an incredible staff of dedicated professionals and for improving organizational performance.

Valet
Team Award

On February 16, during the Mix 101.5 Children’s Radiothon, members of the valet team gave a moving on-air declaration of their commitment to patients. Their nominator described it as a “heartwarming testimony about how they interact with all the patients, especially the children.” Members of the Duke North valet team went on to donate their tips for the day to the radiothon. Their nominator wrote: “What a beautiful example of selflessness -- and what great ambassadors for Duke Hospital.” For their thoughtful kindness, they earned the March 2006 Team award.

Cameron Wells
Clinical Tech Assistant
Patient Transport
Years of Service: 2
Non-Clinical Award

When Cameron Wells came on 4300 to take a patient down for a test, he noticed another patient’s family taking his loved one on a “sightseeing” tour. The family member needed to use the restroom and asked Cameron if he would keep pushing the patient in the interim. Cameron’s nominator wrote: “I was the NA working that night and said I would do it, but he said ‘no problem’ and proceeded to ‘walk’ the patient... Cameron never hesitated to assist the family member and the patient -- even after I told him I wasn’t busy, he still assisted the patient. That is what I really call ‘teamwork.’”

Wound Management
Team Award

After numerous unsuccessful treatments at other health-care facilities, a patient received the special care he needed from the dedicated team in wound management. The patient wrote, “I cannot emphasize enough my gratitude for the treatment, courtesy, professionalism, and friendship afforded me during my treatment.” Immediately upon his arrival at the Wound Management Institute, his prognosis and course of treatment changed. After five months, the team accomplished what had not been done in more than three years; the patient will not need to return for treatment unless he experiences further problems. He congratulates the outstanding Wound Management Institute, under the direction of Dr. Claude S. Burton and Nurse Practitioner Jan Johnson. We congratulate this team for their collaborative approach to patient care.

A Special Thanks to the Selection Committee

Selection Committee July 2005 – June 2006

Kimberly Crenshaw
Kim Overman
Nancy Sanks
Stephen Vaughn
Beth Ormond
Gloria Morgan
Lille Plumer
Jon Seskevich
Marie Sinkiewicz

Selection Committee July 2006 – June 2007

Kimberly Crenshaw
Kim Overman
Nancy Sanks
Stephen Vaughn
Deborah Hunt
Elizabeth Maginnes
Jim Stefanadis
Julius Harrell
Sarah Davis
Suzy Johnson

A Special Thanks to the Nominators
Valerie Bond
Syvil Burke
Eleanor Carter
Diane Cox
Britt Crewse
Jeff Doucette
Nancy Eisenson
Brian Ginsberg, MD
Tracy Gosselin
Marie Hopkins
Beth Hutchinson
Carolina Kroninger
Colleen McLaughlin
Daniel Ostrovsky, MD
Bob Payne
Judy Prewitt
Krista Rowe
Jim Stefanadis
Joyce Teston
Carey Unger
Thomas Vail, MD
Penny Weinhold
Yvette West
Sherri Woody
Mary Anne Zabrycki
Emergency Department
Heart Care Team
ICN Staff

For more information about Duke Hospital’s Strength, Hope, and Caring program, contact Hospital Communications at 919-681-6930.

To submit a nomination, please forward the name of the employee you would like to nominate, along with detailed information about the specific event that served as the catalyst for your nomination to:
SHC Nomination
DUMC Box 3245
Durham, NC 27710

Please include as many details in your nomination as possible. To submit a nomination online, visit serviceimprovement.dukehealth.org and click on the Strength, Hope, and Caring logo.