Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) 5th Annual Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction

The Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction was established as a way to honor caregivers who display compassion in caring for patients and families at CKHA. Each year the process of choosing a person or team becomes more and more difficult as CKHA is full of caring people, providing high quality compassionate care. The selection panel consisted of the Professional Practice Team and two Patient Advisors and the award is based on three criteria; Respect, Patient and Family Centered Care, and Advancing Compassionate Quality Care.

The award is a beautiful Royal Copenhagen figurine “Nurse with Wounded Soldier” gifted to CKHA in 2008 by an anonymous donor in appreciation of care provided to their loved one. The award also comes with a financial gift to be used toward education to further staff expertise in caring for patients at the end of life. The donor stated “the award is to be evidence of my appreciation and thankfulness for the tender care that my husband received, I hope the Fund becomes a vehicle for others to say “thank you” for the same tender care given to other patients and families.”

This year the recipients were Chaplain’s Fernanda Estoesta and Susan Nickel, CKHA’s Pastoral Care Team. Each day this team goes above and beyond and it was difficult for the nominator to share only one story. The nominator shared stories of their monthly memorial services at each campus and their impact on families, their last minute arrangement for a WWII veteran to experience a Remembrance Day service even though he was in hospital and very sick, and also alleviating a dying patients fear of moving to a new unit.

We would also like to acknowledge the nominees for this year’s award; Karen Desjardins, Giselle Watson, Kristine Moninger, Janet Cobb, Jennifer Mazerolle, Wendy Murphy, Cheryl Simpson and Laurie MacEacheron.

Congratulations to all CKHA staff who have given their hearts to patient and families they serve!

Photo, left to right: Chaplain Susan Nickel, Chaplain Fernanda Estoesta, Crystal Houze, patient advisor Mickey Pudicomb (with guide-dog Emerson) and patient advisor Deb Rice.