11/30/2021 | Press release | Archived content
The Sunshine Award recognizes co-workers and volunteers for their extraordinary services and care. Like the quarterly DAISY and Tulip awards, which recognize extraordinary service by nurses, techs and assistants, the Mercy Jefferson Sunshine Award has been established to honor co-workers in any other category.
The honorees receive a certificate and cookies to share with their team. All nominees receive a commemorative pin commending their extraordinary service. The Sunshine Award is part of a recognition and reward program for ancillary care, support services personnel and volunteers.
Matt Thompson earned the Sunshine Award for the extraordinary care he provides with patient transportation.
A co-worker who serves as a patient care associate nominated Thompson by writing: "I had a patient who needed to be transferred to another unit. All day, the patient was making inappropriate comments towards me and his nurse. I asked Matt to help us by transferring the patient as soon as possible… He agreed immediately. Matt is always willing to help us anytime."
Anwar McElhaney, sonographer, earned the Sunshine Award for the extraordinary care he provides in the cardiology unit.
A patient, who also happens to be a co-worker, nominated McElhaney by writing: "I had to come and get an ECHO done. Being a co-worker, I was a little reserved about having it done here at Mercy Jefferson. Anwar put me at ease right away and was professional throughout the whole test. I was very impressed with him as a person and as a co-worker."
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Sara Thomas-Barnes, speech therapist, earned the Sunshine Award for the extraordinary care she provides.
A co-worker nominated Thomas-Barnes for her actions that went beyond the speech therapy she typically provides. Thomas-Barnes arrived for a speech evaluation on a wound care patient who had come out of surgery only a few hours earlier. She noticed the patient's wound needed attention and called the operator to find out how to track down the appropriate wound care team members. The wound care nurse and physician were beyond grateful for Thomas-Barnes proactive approach to get the help they needed.
Mimi Kramper earned the Sunshine Award for her dedication as a social worker with the rehab therapy team. A patient nominated Mimi by writing:
"Mimi is indispensable! She has been there for me navigating appointments, transportation, arranging for home health and making sure the insurance company has given its approval. But aside from doing her job with excellence, Mimi also takes a minute or two to sit and talk with her patients, share new information and see if there's anything else that could make a patient's stay easier - like a phone charger borrowed from the chaplains' office. Thank you, Mimi."