2019 Saha Award for Patient Centered Care honors four
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UK Healthcare recently celebrated the many facets of quality patient care its staff practices during the 2019 presentation of the Saha Awards for Patient Centered Care, which were established through a generous donation from Dr. Sibu Saha, a professor in the division of cardiothoracic surgery.
Sponsored by the Saha Foundation, the annual awards honor health care providers at the University of Kentucky who exemplify the best aspects of patient-centered care, professionalism, and the ability to lead by their example.
Dr. Tukea Talbert, Assistant Operations Executive with UK Healthcare, presided as master of ceremonies for the recognition ceremony in the Karpf Auditorium of UK Hospital. Honorees of the Saha Awards are selected by a committed made up of members of the Saha Foundation. The committee evaluated just over 6,000 stories of UK staff members performing excellent patient care submitted through such reporting mechanisms as the UK STAR program. Judging solely by the numbers of submissions the committee received, it is clear that UK HealthCare’s staff places a premium on delivering patient care above and beyond the standard, Dr. Talbert said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Sibu Saha said that this award is just one way in which UK HealthCare embraces a culture of caring.
CLINICAL NURSE – Christine Short, BSN, RN with Kentucky Children’s Hospital (KCH). Ms. Short has worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) since 2010. She currently works as a floater in the PICU at KCH and is helping develop a home based pediatric palliative care program.
Christine provided comfort to a terminal pediatric patient at Kentucky Children’s Hospital long after her shift ended so he wouldn’t be alone. She met the child’s mother and family when they were able to get to the hospital.
Dr. Kathy Isaacs, director of nursing professional development, presented the award.
CLINICAL SUPPORT – Becca Charles, BSN, CNML with Trauma and Surgical Services. Ms. Charles has worked with UK Healthcare for 23 years. She is continuing her professional growth pursuing a DNP degree.
Becca demonstrated exemplary compassion and kindness toward family members who had been at the hospital with a patient for over two weeks. They had no ability to shower or wash their clothes, since they lived far away. Becca located clean clothes for the family to change into after they took a shower and then washed the dirty clothes for them.
J.J. Housely, Assistant Operations Executive at UK HealthCare, made the award presentation.
AMBULATORY CARE – Katy Walker, LCSW at Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center. As a social worker at the diabetes center, Ms. Walker’s primary role is to work with patients and their families to address the non-medical barriers in diabetes management.
She often goes beyond the scope of her role to help both patients and co-workers, such as when a 19-year-old patient could not afford a glucose meter. Katy found one that came with free supplies and purchased it for the patient.
Dr. John Phillips, chief operating officer for ambulatory services, presented the award.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR – Kevin Bonfield, MD, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. A native of Alexandria, Kentucky, Dr. Bonfield is completing his third year of residency in Internal Medicine.
Dr. Bonfield was checking on a young boy just diagnosed with leukemia. The patient told him that he felt hungry for the first time in days. After learning about the patient’s favorite chicken Alfredo dish from a local restaurant, Dr. Bonfield took the time to order it and surprise the patient with the meal.
Dr. Paula Bailey, an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, presented Dr. Bonfield with his award.
