Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center

I had reason to use your emergency room services on Saturday, August 14. I want to congratulate you on your excellent staff. Dr. Mary Martin and nurses Karen and Pam just did a great job. They took care of my issues in a most timely and professional manner. Would you please let senior management and the emergency room staff know how good they are.

Thank you.
~Bob M.

Just wanted you to know that my mother was very well taken care of from July 27 to August 2. She stayed in room 240 (bed by the window). The nurses were great (Mary, Daniele, Cliff, Kathy, Linda, Debbie) and aides (Kim, especially Cindi, Jamie, Joann). If I missed a few names I’m sorry. But they were all great!!!! I couldn’t have asked for a better staff to take care of my mom. They were all very loving and caring. Their personalities made you feel at home. Cindi really made you feel at home, she made you feel like you were old friends, and whatever you needed she would get it for you. She was a realy sweetheart.

Thanks to all of you.
~Mary H.

Joseph M. Miller, DO has been appointed to the medical staff at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center with privileges in obstetrics and gynecology. The hospital’s governing board confirmed his appointment in August.

Dr. Miller, board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Stratford, NJ. He completed his internship in internal medicine at Staten Island University Hospital in NY and his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ.

Dr. Miller’s office is located at 700 S.E. 5th Terrace, Ste. 6, Crystal River. Call 352.794.6060.

Click here for the August 2010 Nurse Advise-ERR

Back issues of the newsletter are available at http://www.ismp.org/Newsletters/nursing/backissues.asp.

Awilda M. Pena, MD has been appointed to the medical staff at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center with privileges in internal medicine. The hospital’s governing board confirmed her appointment in July.

Dr. Pena, board eligible in internal medicine, received her medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra in the Dominican Republic. She completed her residency in internal medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, NY where she was named resident of the year three years in a row. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Dr. Pena practices with West Florida Medical Associates at 3775 N. Lecanto Highway, Beverly Hills. Call 352.746.0600.

Mary M., my beloved mother, passed away in your ICU/CCU just two days ago. Although still painfully grieving, I must take the time to express the appreciation that my family and me feel about the care and treatment she received while at your hospital.

Although my sister, Mary Anne, works at your hospital and one might expect special treatment for that status, it became clear to my family that all of the patients in ICU/CCU received the same loving and professional care that my mother received. The excellence of care and the understanding of the needs and emotions of our family were exceptional. No matter what questions were asked or how silly they may have seemed to the professional staff, all were answered in a king and understanding way that let each member of my family know that my mother was in the best possible place and receiving the best possible care.

I want to personally thank Cindy, Becky, Jennifer, Maureen and Rebecca and anyone else in the unit that I might have missed for their excellent work and to Lucy, who worked overnight and provided assurance to my family that "no one suffers on her shift." I also want to give thanks to all for allowing the rules to be bent to allow all of my mother's children and grandchildren ample time and accommodation to be with her until the very end.

I know from my own experience that complaints are quick and easy to send when things go bad and compliments are few and far between even with things go good. I did not want to fall into that trap and not give the credit and thanks where it belongs.

While the final outcome was very sad and remains very painful, it is also comforting to know that my mother's final hours were peaceful and painless and in a surrounding that was full of her family's love.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would let the excellent staff in ICU/CCU know just how grateful we are for their professional and compassionate support for my mother and her entire family.

~Brad J.

I know you sometimes hear complaints from patients and their families, but I thought I would drop you a note to let you know of our very pleasant first encounter with your hospital. 

My husband came into the Ambulatory Surgery Center yesterday for prostate surgery that was done by the very competent Dr. Kumar, who is now a part of Dr. Zelneronok’s office. The nursing staff (Gwen, Karen and Earleen) went out of their way to make both of us feel welcome and comfortable. Needless to say, my husband was very anxious prior to his surgery, but all of the staff in the pre-op area were polite, upbeat, pleasant, knowledgeable and helpful. 

I didn’t know before the surgery if my husband (Jim) would be able to go home that day, but by 9:10 a.m. (the surgery was scheduled for 8:30 a.m.),  Dr. Kumar came to advise me that all went very well and that he could go home as soon as he felt able to.  We were home by 1:00 p.m.!

I can’t say enough good things about our first experience at your hHospital, but it was a first impression that will last a long time.

Thank you and your entire staff for a pleasant experience.

~Marilyn J.

I was a patient from July 6 to July 10 at Seven Rivers. I want to tell you how pleased I was with the changes since the last time I was there.

I was on floor 3 North and I want to compliment my nurse Mafe. She is a nurse far above the ones I have had in the past at many hospitals. Nothing is too much and she goes the extra mile. You are lucky to have a nurse like her.

~Philip D.

July 2: Evelu B. Ramos-Huffman, Jason L. Costa • July 3: Alvin A. Culi • July 5: Dawn M. Craig, Mary A. Sanchez • July 6: Susan J. Justice • July 7: Nancy E. Ferguson • July 8: Elizabeth A. Rahimi-White, Kathy Woodham, Kelly L. Darling • July 9: Christel A. Conrad • July 10: Rosemarie C. Coyle • July 11: Cynthia Wingler • July 12: Teresa A. Thomas • July 13: Laura G. McKim, Kim M. Discher • July 15: Jane A. Byron, Maureen P. Nolan, Mike W. Potts • July 16: Danielle D. Decker • July 18: Carmela D. Killinger • July 22: Tara L. Marino, Annette Deas, Lewis R. Wilt • July 23: Joann K. Mramor • July 24: Joyce Davis, Linda Perrin • July 25: Jason M. Wolf • July 27: Carol L. Scharf, Kay F. Archambault • July 28: Dorothy T. Pernu, Theresa D. Bodden, Barbara L. Eisenberger • July 29: Susan K. Wright, Kay P. Burke, Joseph Letts, Jr. • July 30: Lori Quilan, Jennifer A. D'Andrea • July 31: Margaret Henry

"On April 23 of this year, I was admitted to your facility through the emergency room. First of all, I would like to thank your staff for the excellent care I received at a very stressful time in my life. For you see, this year we have been hit hard with several huge debts including my husband's back surgery in January and then almost immediately afterward the necessity of digging a new well which alone set us back over $8,000. In addition, in February we lost our 20 year old grandson who had just received his second lung transplant.

I do not have medical insurance and within a few days from my discharge I was contacted by your accounting representative, Beverly Johnson, regarding the hospital charges. I want to not only thank Ms. Johnson for her very professional and caring attitude, but also for her assistance in helping me reach a compromise in the amount of the hospital bill.

Although this may be exactly what Ms. Johnson's job entails, I have to express my sincere gratitude for her willingness and ability to also help me with the many other invoices I received from other specialists and services. Without this help, I truly believe I would have been overwhelmed with the magnitude of the task of dealing with all the debt.

I do not know if you have a system for rewarding exemplary employees. If you do, my vote would certainly go to Ms. Johnson. Please convey to her, my deep appreciation not only for her proficiency but especially for the kindness and friendliness she portrays.

~E. Ann R.

Lewis (pictured with hisaward) received the MayIMPACT Award based on the following nomination from Susie Justice in Food & Nutrition:

“On the afternoon May 22, Lewis went to his car to lower the windows. He encountered a visitor having trouble starting her father’s truck. Even though it was his lunch time and he could have easily kept walking, he stopped to help her. She was with a family member in the ER and was under enough stress without the car trouble. I think a few minutes of Lewis’ time helped make her day a little better and that he should be recognized for it.”

When You See A Star
Take a moment to fill out the "I Saw a Star" form available in your department. Nominees should be leading examples of one or more of the following:

• Serving the community with excellence in health care
• Caring, respect, integrity
• Five Pathways to Excellence (service, quality, people, cost, growth)
• Community service
• Commitment and dependability
• Creativity and innovation
• Teamwork and leadership

"I was recently a patient of yours for hip surgery. I had to write to tell you what a fantastic staff you have! The nurse I had during the day was Brittany and her aides Nancy and Marg (I may not be ranking them high enough). At night I had Peggy and so sorry I can't remember the other girl's name. The day I left, I had nurse Kerry and Tina. These girls were always so cheerful and helpful! I couldn't have asked for any better treatment. God bless."

Here is some advice from management experts and psychologists.

SMALL GESTURES COUNT
Smiling and saying hello to co-workers takes little effort and could have a big effect. Sigal Barsade, a management professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, says such small gestures can be like “striking the match in the workplace - the match toward positive.”

One person’s body language and facial expressions also can affect a group’s emotions, as Barsade found in a laboratory study. Being nice to other people also helps develop a culture of reciprocity, where everyone tacitly agrees to return the help and emotional support they receive.

CURB YOUR NEGATIVES
You can spread negative emotions as easily as positive ones, especially if you are not conscious of your effect on others. “Try to understand how your behavior makes experiences” for others, says Purdue University psychologist Howard Weiss. “A lot of the time, we create negative experiences in other people because we behave in ways that we know are wrong but we can’t control ourselves,” he says.

Weiss suggests replenishing your “regulatory resources” by taking time off from the emotional work of self-regulation. Getting away from the workplace social setting during the day can be useful.

Barsade says a short “time-out” can be helpful when you find your mood sagging and don’t want to bring others down. Even just stepping outside the workplace for a few minutes of reflection can do the job.

WATCH WHAT YOU BRING TO WORK
If you start the work day grouchy, chances are that you will end it that way. In a study of call-center employees, Wharton professor Nancy Rothbard and Steffanie Wilk of the University of Ohio’s Fisher School of Business found that the mood people brought with them to work had a stronger effect on their day (and their performance) than anything that happened at the workplace. (They also found, happily, that positive moods have a more potent impact on productivity than negative moods do).

Such research makes the point that there’s not a sharp boundary between work and the rest of life. “You don’t enter some sort of cloister when you go to work,” says Weiss. But you can work to soften the impact of your mood when it’s a bad one. “The first thing is to be aware of it,” says Barsade. “This goes a long way toward diminishing it, because at least you’re
paying attention.”

Provided by your Employee Assistance Program

At the end of February 2010, I was admitted to Seven Rivers emergency and then directly the ICU. I thought I had the flu, but the diagnosis came back multiple myeloma – bone marrow cancer. This was a shock in more ways than one, as I had never had a major illness and no pre-existing conditions. My hemoglobin level was at 3.4 – out of a minimum healthy level of 12 – and I was close to death. Compounding this problem was that my significant other, Neville Ryan, and I were in Florida to be caregivers to my aged father – who had suffered kidney failure and needed dialysis. Our small monthly income did not allow for the large COBRA payment which would have been needed to keep my health insurance from my last employer and since I had been a healthy adult, we forwent the added expense. This left me uninsured.

Within 24 hours of my admittance to the ICU, Ms. Nancy Van House of Med Assist contacted Neville and offered her assistance. Ms. Van House has been our tireless champion and advocate and has guided us through the Medicaid maze so that I have been able to receive treatment from my oncologist, surgeon, as well as the myriad of specialists that I need to see. As you well may be aware, quite a few doctors will not treat uninsured patients and it was determined that 80 percent of my bone marrow was cancerous, it was tantamount that I be able to receive treatment as quickly as possible. Because of Ms. Van House’s prompt attention to our plight and her meticulous actions, we were accepted by Medicaid and the added stress of huge medical bills does not weigh so heavily upon us. As time has passed, we appreciate her efforts more and more as we learn of how others, already in the Medicaid system, still are denied payments on many of their bills though they have me the Medicaid guidelines. This tells me that Ms. Van House is an expert in processing and managing Medicaid claims.

We are so very grateful to her and wish to commend Ms. Van House to you in the most glowing of terms. She truly cares about your patients. Ms. Van House understands that having a compassionate patient advocate ready to deal with an often unheeding bureaucracy so as to be free from the heavy burden of catastrophic medical bills is also part of the healing process. It is not an understatement to say that she has saved me as surely as your wonderful doctors and nurses have.

~Miriam W.

We are writing to express our deepest appreciation for the care that Mrs. Peggy Guy, our mother and mother-in-law, received at the facility during her recent hospitalization and ultimate passing. Our family has relied on the hospital for our health care for many years, and has never been disappointed with the personalized care, compassion and expertise we have received.

We could not have been luckier than to have had Drs. Royalty, Shukla and Parikh taking care of her. Each spent invaluable time with the family, explaining aspects of her care and her condition. Each was compassionate, patient with the family's questions and our need for understanding what was going on, and helping us make the right, difficult decisions.

All staff members, from surgery and anesthesia personnel, through the ICU nurses, treated her and the family members with kindness, personalized attention and compassion. The both of us having been nurses for many years, we cannot say enough about your outstanding ICU staff. Each and every one went "above and beyond" in their actions. We will be forever grateful for their expert care and kindness during one of the most difficult times of our lives. Please tell Cyndi Heitzman what a wonderful group of nurses we think she has.

We also appreciate all of our former co-workers that stopped by to offer their support and any assistance they might provide.

We only hope that the citizens of Citrus County realize what a gem they have in their own backyard...

~Leasa and Mike K.

June 1: Dawn Heatly  June 2: Darlyn Phillips  June 5: Linda Bass  June 6: Ronnie R. Hamed, Patricia A. Smith  June 7: Tina M. Spangler, Randall E. Sanders  June 8: Alysia A. Adams, Luzthelta M. Lagasca  June 11: Jerrold D. Levengood, Tina M. Kah  June 13: Carol A. Bastress, Katherine V. Waldman  June 14: Maureen E. Morra  June 15: Holly D. Johnson  June 17: Mary T. Charles, Joanne Bonanno  June 18: Claire S. Bassett  June 19: Betty A. Turney, Delana L. Hale, Carla D. Beach  June 20: Lisa A. Johnson  June 22: Patricia A. Cason, Saundrea Nihiser, Mindy M. Tiesmeyer  June 23: Ermalee Johnson  June 24: Kenneth R. Toomey  June 25: Shannon M. Gilkison  June 27: Toni M. Gaitanis  June 28: Benjamin P. Garner  June 29: Melissa S. Chitty, William H. Bowman  June 30: David A. Tucker
 

Chrissy (pictured with her award) received the April IMPACT Award based on the following nomination from Jolene, David, Jason and Dr. Osborn in the Emergency Room:

"Chrissy was our ED Tech tonight. She was ready to go home after working her 12 hour shift. She had said goodbye when the ED was suddenly presented with five ambulances in 35 minutes - one being a critical patient needing extra staff to care for. We also had several walk-in patients, some of them complaining of serious conditions. Chrissy stayed and helped out for several more hours. She really took a load off of our thinned staff and she worked selflessly and diligently the entire time. It is through her selflessness, positive attitude and willingness to help her co-workers and take care of patient's needs first that makes Chrissy an asset to this hospital and her team members."

When You See A Star
Take a moment to fill out the "I Saw a Star" form available in your department. Nominees should be leading examples of one or more of the following:

• Serving the community with excellence in health care
• Caring, respect, integrity
• Five Pathways to Excellence (service, quality, people, cost, growth)
• Community service
• Commitment and dependability
• Creativity and innovation
• Teamwork and leadership

Kathy Stevens (pictured center) has received the March IMPACT Award based on the following nomination:

"Kathy is an exceptional example of a team worker. When she has a patient that has been discharged or transferred from one of her rooms, she always strips the bed and gets the trash. This is a big help from us (Environmental Services), especially when we have stats and another patient is waiting for the room. Her caring attitude helps us to get the room cleaned quicker so the next patient can get in and settled. That's why we say she is an exceptional example of a team worker...and she is a STAR!"

When You See A Star
Take a moment to fill out the "I Saw a Star" form available in your department. Nominees should be leading examples of one or more of the following:

• Serving the community with excellence in health care
• Caring, respect, integrity
• Five Pathways to Excellence (service, quality, people, cost, growth)
• Community service
• Commitment and dependability
• Creativity and innovation
• Teamwork and leadership

Amanda Colby (pictured center) has received the March IMPACT Award based on the following nomination:

"Amanda goes above and beyond when dealing with locating receiving facilities for transfers and locating staff for filling in shifts while putting up with high census and Type A ICU nurses (all needing something at the same time). On one occasion, she was able to track down the missing daughter of a terminal patient. The daughter was on a commercial fishing vessel in the middle of the ocean. She contacted the Red Cross/Coast Guard - they were able to contact the daughter and retrieve her from the boat - hastening her arrival to her mother's side. She does not consider the difficulty or give up - she just get it done if she can."

When You See A Star
Take a moment to fill out the "I Saw a Star" form available in your department. Nominees should be leading examples of one or more of the following:

• Serving the community with excellence in health care
• Caring, respect, integrity
• Five Pathways to Excellence (service, quality, people, cost, growth)
• Community service
• Commitment and dependability
• Creativity and innovation
• Teamwork and leadership

B. Jeffrey Wallis, MD has been appointed to the medical staff at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center with privileges in gastroenterology. The hospital’s governing board confirmed his appointment in January.

Dr. Wallis, board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York City, NY. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Rutgers in New Brunswick, NJ and fellowships in gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at SUNY-Stony Brook in Setauket, NY.

Prior to his appointment at Seven Rivers Regional, Dr. Wallis practiced in private and government settings and trained in advanced endoscopic techniques including endoscopic ultrasound. He is currently accepting new patients. His office is located at 3653 E. Forest Drive in Inverness. Call 352.344.8080.

To the staff of the ICU: Danny, Joan, Ashley, Anne, Amanda, Lucy, Maureen and Kathy,

You give so much of yourself in the kindness you share and the lives you touch. That's why you deserve a heartfelt "thank you" and a wish that all the goodness you share comes back to you.

Thank you so much for the care you gave me [March 2-5]. You all made my stay easier, you did not hesitate to help me or to see if I needed anything. You all are a terrific example of your profession.

~John L.

On December 31, 2009 my husband Greg ended the year with a bang by having a heart attack while hunting in the Gulf Hammock. We'd like to give our heartfelt (pun intended) thanks to the many people who helped us through this experience.

First of all, for their calming influence and quick decision-making, many thanks to Brian and Ronnie Merchant and Rae Jean Nieland for getting Greg out of the woods. We later learned another 10-20 minutes would have meant a much different outcome.

Many thanks to the Levey County 911 dispatcher Shannon Hudson for her guidance and patience while we met the ambulance on the paved roads. Thanks to the Levy County EMS paramedics Paul and Bob for the trailblazing and care to Greg during his ride to the hospital, and patience while explaining things. He is especially happy you didn't have to cut any of his hunting clothes!

As weekend residents, we hadn't previously taken advantage of the medical facilities available. We were very pleased with Seven Rivers where Greg was stabilized and admitted before being transferred that evening to Citrus Memorial. Everyone we encountered there was great, especially Linda in the ER, nurse Cliff and PCA Nancy on the 2nd floor, and Dr. Mullally.

Citrus Memorial was terrific during Greg's six day stay. We can't thank everyone in the Cath Lab and CVPCU enough - nurses, patient techs, doctors, nutrition, housekeeping and building maintenance. Thanks all, especially in CVPCU - Rebecca, Lee Ann, Krysta, Penny, Nan, Nancy and the list goes on; sorry if we left someone out! Greg liked the Cath Lab so much he went back for a second cardiac catheterization and third stent on January 4.

And of course, thanks to all our family, friends and hunting buddies!! Thanks for all your help, prayers, kind words and thoughts, visits and food! You guys are the best. Because of all of you, Greg will be able to walk his daughter down the aisle this coming October and play with his future grandchildren.

To a happy and healthy 2010! Warmest wishes,
The Sanden Family - Greg, Beth, Scott & Carlisle
Inglis, FL and Gulfport

With the ongoing controversy at CMH, I'd like to address one aspect of patient care there: The waiting in the ER needs to be rectified as soon as possible. Two to eight hours for illness, and the pain of some of that patients that are not brought in by ambulance but just to wait, is unbelievable. The half-hour ride from Inverness to Seven Rivers is worth the extra gas when you know you will be treated immediately, per their ad in the Chronicle. We have tested this and recommend it to many people, especially snowbirds, who are appalled at the ER procedures here.

Leonard Calodney, MD and recovery room nurse Ruth Branson celebrate their Mixed B Division victory at the annual Crystal River Doubles Tournament in January.

"This is just a note to tell you how well my husband and I were treated at your hospital. He came there to have his dialysis fistula taken care of. His doctor was Dr. William Gelinas. From the beginning we were received with respect and caring. Our nurse was Kathleen.

At first he was to be an outpatient. Surgery was completed around 3:30 p.m. He was to dialyzed and go home. Unable to get this done that day, he was kept overnight. Being out of state and unfamiliar with the area, I was at a complete loss. I asked if I might stay and they said yes.

We were served our dinner when we were in the room around 7 p.m. Our nurses were Sue and Susan. Later Debbie and Greg. They were so kind and caring. Saturday morning at 6:15 a.m. my husband went to dialysis. My breakfast tray came when breakfast was served. Our nurses again were Sue and Susan.

We have been in other hospitals, large and small, but wanted you to know you have wonderful nurses in the ones we had!" ~ Roy & Barbara W. (Brownstown, Indiana)

"I was in the hospital for three days and received exceptionally good care on the 3rd Floor. Also, I am receiving six weeks of I.V. antibiotic treatments twice daily from the Ambulatory Surgery Center and Emergency Room on the weekends.

I am unable to select a specific nurse for an exceptional job because all of them have done an exceptional professional, courteous and friendly job. These nurses work as a team with the patient in mind."

I was admitted to the emergency room Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, reassigned to the ICU with low oxygen, high carbon dioxide and bronchial distress. From time of admission until time of discharge the following Saturday, Nov. 14, the care I received was constant, compassionate, professional and above reproach.

I do not know the names of all those responsible for my excellent care, but to any RN, LPN and/or PCA assigned to Room 239, bed 01, “Thank you.” The meals were served hot, and delicious! And although the menu was, by necessity, limited, the variety was equal to some local restaurants.

I am also fortunate to have an outstanding primary care physician in Dr. Anu Tatumblohta. Her referral to a pulmonary specialist, Dr. Manoj Shukla, has greatly aided the healing process. I know, for a fact, that some will read this letter and say: “Is Guard nuts? I’ve been in that place and I was never treated that well!”

For those who claim they’ve never been treated as well as I, the answer is simple: Look in the nearest mirror!

Again, thanks to all concerned.

Donald E. Guard
Homosassa

"I would like to say that this was my first engagement with Seven Rivers hospital, I was very favorably impressed. Everyone was extremely good to me, explaining everything clearly and very friendly. I will have only good things to say about Seven Rivers and its staff." ~Margaret

Dear Ms. Brancato,

Through a series of unfortunate incidents, I became a patient at your facility on November 3. I was initially in the Emergency Room, then the ICU. As an ER nurse myself, I know quality care. How does one exceed quality care? I don't know the answer, but I know I experienced it by the "above and beyond" care I received; in the Emergency Room, Nancy Ennis, Bobbie Nagel, Tom Robertson, Dr. Martin and Barbara Hall and in the ICU, Anne and Valerie.

My sincere apologies if I have forgotten anyone. We were on vacation and 90 miles away from our hotel with no money, no clothes or transportation. Your facility allowed my boyfriend to stay with me and fed him guest trays.

What a relief off my shoulders that you also cared for him since he had no ID with him so renting a car or getting a hotel was not an option. Again, thank you very much for the care I received and kudos to you for your excellent employees. ~Debbie

Dear Ms. Brancato,

We are writing this letter on behalf of our family in regards to care given to our mother, Lynn B. We cannot express the gratitude we feel in regards to the wonderful care that our mother has received over the past few months at Seven Rivers. Your staff has made what would normally be a difficult and painful time, bearable and even enjoyable.

Her nurses have been compassionate and supportive. Patty, Danyal and Angie went above and beyond in their care for our mom both physically and emotionally. They provided our dad, Gayle, with the support he needed as well. With his daughters far away in Illinois, he was thankful to have other to lean on when he was feeling helpless.

Lisa and David gave her such special attention while she was on their floor. They were gentle, kind and brightened her day. All of them have continued to follow her progress as she recovers from surgery to amputate her leg and receives the rehab she will need to return home.

Our mother is very grateful for their professionalism and kindness and was anxious for us to meet her nursing staff when we arrived from Illinois. We also appreciate Laura helping both at the wound center and again in the hospital as we have struggled to comprehend her medical situation and come to terms with our various options.

Each one of them has touched our family during this difficult time. In the last 12 months, our mom has spent close to 40 days in various hospitals. Her care at Seven Rivers has exceeded our expectations due to these caring people. We truly feel blessed despite the outcome we had avoided at all costs.

As a result, their attitude has helped transition our mom to the next stage of her life. She is positive about moving forward and regaining quality in her life. They have impacted her attitude toward her rehab and recovery. We will be forever grateful. ~ Janet & Dena

Dear Ms. Brancato,

Kathy Hotz has been taking care of my brother, Tom E., in ICU for the past several days. Of course, as with all patients and family, the days have been extremely hard for all of us. Kathy is a breath of fresh air. When she walks into the room we immediately know, feel and observe that the utmost care, concern, love, attention and a constant smile are being given. She is extremely knowledgeable and her presence is frequent. She is not an absent nurse.

She is such an outstanding person. She is such an outstanding care giver. We have been blessed to have her. ~Mary Ann, on behalf of the family

Dear Ms. Brancato,

I received your survey regarding my October 6-8 stay at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center in Crystal River. It has taken me a while to recover enough from my operation to write this letter. The survey is being mailed along with this letter.

I have had 17 operations in my 68 years. I also never get sick with flu's, colds, etc. So it's a real bummer to feel so helpless. I was a little apprehensive about Florida hospitals from all the bad news it gets about treating its senior citizens. I also rank hospitals. Some of the best hospitals in Atlanta don't weather very high. To be brief, Seven Rivers in Crystal River comes in on my scale as #1. I was especially impressed with the nurses, all of them. I could tell plenty of horror stories about most of my hospital stays, but not one in regards to Seven Rivers.

Another comment about their phlebotomists, I had to have blood drawn three times. Each time with a different girl. Each time they found my vein on the first attempt. This almost never happens. Wow!

I hope this letter gives praise to those professionals so they know what a great job they are doing. I wish I had names to give you, but sometimes I forget my own. ~Judith

To the Staff at Seven Rivers,

I wish to thank everyone for the great care I received at your hospital. I want to thank Dr. Royalty and his staff for the operation (carotid artery stenosis) and its success. I want to thank my nurse in ICU. Her name was Kathy Hotz. She made me feel like someone special and not just a number. I have been at your hospital before and received excellent care also. Thank you. ~Roger

Jorge Ruiz Llanes, MD has been appointed to the medical staff at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center with privileges in Internal Medicine. The hospital’s governing board recently confirmed his appointment.

Dr. Ruiz Llanes, board certified in internal medicine, received his medical degree from the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences, in Havana, Cuba in 1990. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University at El Paso, TX.

Dr. Ruiz Llanes practiced as a hospitalist at Seven Rivers Medical Center from 2006 to 2008. He is now opening his private practice in Crystal River where new patients are welcome. He is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish.

Kevin Garside, Maureen Pittman, RN, and Debbie Ludlow each received Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center’s 3^rd Quarter CHOICE Award for their outstanding commitment to making the hospital a better place for patients, employees, physicians and volunteers. This honor is only awarded to those who best exemplify SRRMCs mission to serve the community with excellence in health care.

“We have many dedicated employees who help make SRRMC the hospital of choice for people in our community,” said Joyce Brancato, CEO.  “Kevin, Maureen and Debbie have gone the extra mile to provide the highest standard of employee support and patient care."

Kevin Garside, interim director of plant operations, was nominated by an employee who started her journey home after a long day at work only to experience a flat tire. The employee returned to the hospital and called Kevin. He offered assistance without hesitation, graciously helping the employee make a safe trip home.

Maureen Pittman, RN was nominated by co-workers after she volunteered to babysit a new born baby for the daughter of a patient who was critically ill. The nomination concluded with: "We believe Maureen went above and beyond so the daughter was able to spend quality time with her mother during a very difficult time. Maureen's care for her patients goes beyond the time she is scheduled to be [at the hospital]. This is just one of many examples of this. She is a true asset to us all and her patients."

Debbie Ludlow, patient access manager, was nominated by a hospital volunteer who was impressed with Debbie’s devotion to excellent customer service. After witnessing Debbie take time out of her busy day to address the concerns of three patients, the volunteer wrote in a letter, “She should be commended. Because of her time and kindness, she left all three patients with a very good feeling about Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center.”

Diane Rowley, RN (pictured center) was nominated for the September IMPACT Award by co-worker Kathleen Guillen, RN after Diane helped a patient's husband through the aftermath of a car accident upon traveling to the hospital to pick up his wife.

The nomination stated: "Our patient was about to be discharged from ASC. Her husband totaled their vehicle at the caution light intersection on Highway 19. He walked all the way back to ASC, pulling his oxygen tank. Diane helped him contact his insurance company and drove him back to his vehicle to retrieve his wallet and other personal items. The outcome was that a friend came from Inverness to pick them up so our patient could begin recuperating."

When You See A Star
Take a moment to fill out the "I Saw a Star" form available in your department. Nominees should be leading examples of one or more of the following:

• Serving the community with excellence in health care
• Caring, respect, integrity
• Five Pathways to Excellence (service, quality, people, cost, growth)
• Community service
• Commitment and dependability
• Creativity and innovation
• Teamwork and leadership

Dear Ms. Brancato,

I am a volunteer at you hospital and generally volunteer in the Admitting/Registration department every Monday. I am used t seeing first-hand the exceptional customer service delivered by our Admitting/Registration department, but on September 18 I had the opportunity to see the service delivered from the viewpoint of a patient. I presented to the emergency room as a patient Friday evening, September 18. I was immediately and warmly greeted by members of the registration team: Pamela Price and Caralee Heil. These two not only epitomize the professionalism required of individuals that work in health care, but they also exude a caring and compassionate personality that immediately puts a patient at ease. As you know, it can be an extremely stressful situation to find yourself on the other side of the desk in a hospital - no one wants to be a patient. These two delivered a great first impression and immediately made me feel welcomed, safe and secure and confident that I would receive the best possible care. And this care was not only delivered to me. The emergency room was busy this particular evening and I found myself having to wait a long period of time in the lobby. As I waited, I noticed that the care and concern that was shown to me was being duplicated to each and every patient as if they were the only one they had seen that evening - everyone received top notch customer service.

Once I was brought back to the treatment area, I received a visit from both Pamela and Caralee (they wanted to check and see how I was doing). This simple gesture was very much appreciated by not only me but my husband as well. These days patients have a lot more choices when it comes to receiving health care. It is my belief that customer service plays as much a part of choosing where to go when you need medical services rendered as the high-tech technology that hospitals invest in to treat their patients. This about it, a hospital can have the best 64-slice GE Cat Scan technology that is offered, but if the admitting representative is rude when the patient checks in, what exactly will the patient remember (or advertise to others)? Will that patient go home and talk to his/her neighbors about the great Cat Scan technology or will they talk about the rude representative that checked them in for service (or vice-versa - will they talk about the great CT technology or the GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE delivered). I received great customer service and wanted to make sure I shared that message with you. ~Judith

Dear Wound Care Center Staff,

After much thought and prayer, I have come to the conclusion that my attitude for the past few weeks has been quite negative. For this I offer my sincere apologies.

The medical staff have shown great and loving concern in the care that I have received and to them go a great praise. They have done their jobs with fantastic ability to meet my needs.

I know that my attitude has not been what it should be as a retired pastor who has not applied the truth of God's word and I wish to make a public apology of my rejection of your authority concerning my care and recovery.

I have confessed my sin to God and been forgiven. I trust that the staff will also forgive me for my bad attitude. I will henceforth endeavor to keep my appointments as needed in order to follow the doctor's recommendation.

Thank you for being patient with this patient. ~Richard

"A big thank you to everyone who cared for my father. In the ED - Dr. Martin and all the nurses. In ICU - Teri and Kathy - you are both very special. On the third floor - Patty, Karen and Lisa - thank you so much. All your kind, compassionat care is appreciated. Thank you again."

"I would like to take this time to express my feeling on my stay in the hospital August 5 for almost a week. My doctor, Dr. Charles Li, was an excellent doctor for my treatment. This was my first stay in the hospital and my experience with Dr. Li was a good thing.

All the nurses were great and the aides also. This was a good experience overall, if you have to be in the hospital. One nurse stands out over all, her name is Birdie Lacey (3-North). She took the time to explain whatever questions I had and what treatment was going on. She did not rush in and out of the room. Birdie was a very nice person and a good nurse.

There was another nurse I had before I had to change rooms. I cannot remember her name because I was in Room 112 for one day. She did everything to make me comfortable for the circumstance I was in.

I had pneumonia and the first room had too much light and was to noisy. I was running a high fever and had a migraine headache.

Anyway, these two nurses and Dr. Li were very attentive and made me as comfortable as possible. Everyone was great. I just wanted you to know Birdie and the rest give Seven Rivers a good name and peace of mind." ~ Ted

"What a wonderful team you have! My husband and I want to thank everyone who took great care of him recently - the ER on July 31 and in the surgery center (plus Dr. Kumar and the lithotripsy team) on September 14. They all deserve the highest praise, as do those who support them. I hope I haven't left any department off this. Thank you team!!" ~ Carol

Maureen Pittman, RN (pictured center) was nominated for the August IMPACT Award by co-workers Amanda Colby and Kristen Smith after Maureen volunteered to babysit a new born baby for the daughter of a patient who was critically ill.

The nomination concluded with: "We believe Maureen went above and beyond so the daughter was able to spend quality time with her mother during a very difficult time. Maureen's care for her patients goes beyond the time she is scheduled to be [at the hospital]. This is just one of many examples of this. She is a true asset to us all and her patients."

When You See A Star
Take a moment to fill out the "I Saw a Star" form available in your department. Nominees should be leading examples of one or more of the following:

• Serving the community with excellence in health care
• Caring, respect, integrity
• Five Pathways to Excellence (service, quality, people, cost, growth)
• Community service
• Commitment and dependability
• Creativity and innovation
• Teamwork and leadership

Lewis Wilt (pictured with his certificate) was nominated for the July IMPACT Award by Candy Brown who wrote:

"I feel that Lewis more than deserves to be recognized as a star for being so good at what he does. I can be a very picky customer in the lunch line most of the time, asking for things on the side, sandwiches without bread, sauce without pasta...in general I'm probably a nuisance. But Lewis always greets me with a smile and always accommodates me with whatever request I come up with. This may seem minor to most people, but to me, it makes my day so much nicer."

When You See A Star
Take a moment to fill out the "I Saw a Star" form available in your department. Nominees should be leading examples of one or more of the following:

• Serving the community with excellence in health care
• Caring, respect, integrity
• Five Pathways to Excellence (service, quality, people, cost, growth)
• Community service
• Commitment and dependability
• Creativity and innovation
• Teamwork and leadership