SPIRIT OF MERCY AWARD WINNERS RECOGNIZED …

1 MAY 18, 2018 | VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 20 For the Sisters of MERCY , the MERCY Values of Reverence, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence were a way of life as they worked to serve the community. Today, these same values guide MERCY s physicians, health professionals and other colleagues, making interactions with each other, and the care provided to each patient and family, recognizes the outstanding efforts of colleagues whose professional and personal standards exemplify MERCY 's Mission and Vision with the SPIRIT of MERCY AWARD . In the last year, 173 colleagues were nominated for this great honor.

2 The following SPIRIT of MERCY AWARD WINNERS were RECOGNIZED at the 2018 Annual Service Awards Dinner, held Thursday, May 17, at the Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport. Deb Bagnall, Medical Education Julie Bles, Accountable Care Organization James Brandsen, Courtesy Shuttle Service Gregg Lagan, Public Relations and Marketing Dr. Willie McClairen, Trauma Surgeons Dr. Tim McCoy, MERCY Clinics Family Medicine South Matthew Michelson, Pediatric Emergency Vlasta Mujanovic, Pharmacy Willow Patterson, Cath Lab Recovery Rania Robb, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Trisha Steenhoek, Medical Imaging Danielle Wafful, Medical Imaging Ron White, PharmacyAs part of their recognition, all SPIRIT of MERCY AWARD WINNERS received a MERCY Cross and a framed certificate thanking them for their service.

3 In addition, SPIRIT of MERCY AWARD WINNERS were also placed in the running to win a trip for two to visit the House of MERCY in Ireland, where the Sisters of MERCY began their mission of service. The trip is given in honor of former MERCY Board Chairman Steve Chapman and is funded through generous contributions from members of the community. This year, the trip to Ireland was awarded to Willow Patterson. Willow has been with MERCY for 41 years and currently works in the Cath Lab. I am very humbled and honored, said Patterson. MERCY has always been my home. I love coming to work every day and I enjoy the patients and the staff I work with so much.

4 I am so grateful to be honored with this trip. Patterson s director, Angie Oakie, added, Willow is an amazing nurse. She is compassionate, thoughtful, genuine and thorough. She is patient, kind and respectful to all. She is so calm, even when dealing with critical situations. There is no one you will find who has met Willow on a bad day. SPIRIT OF MERCY AWARD WINNERS RECOGNIZED AT ANNUAL SERVICE AWARDS EVENTThe SPIRIT of MERCY AWARD continues to accept nominations on a monthly basis. Nominations are due by the 15th of each month to Chief Mission Officer Laura Wenman. You can find fillable forms on the MercyNet home page in the upper left corner.

5 You can also pick up applications in Administration at both central campus and West Patterson, Cath Lab RecoveryThe Bulletin is published weekly for staff and friends of MERCY Medical Center, 1111 6th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2611If you are interested in submitting information to be printed in the Bulletin, send it to PR and Marketing or call USFOLLOW US:@MercyDesMoinesWhen it comes to saving lives, our patients depend on the expertise and care provided by MERCY s dedicated EMS colleagues. Our fleet of eight ambulances, two helicopters and more than 80 emergency medical professionals work around the clock to save lives.

6 Please take a moment next week to thank your EMS colleagues for providing the first moments of crucial care to our patients!PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGEON PROVIDES CARING EXPERTISE TO CHILD AND PARENTCELEBRATE EMS WEEK MAY 20-26 When Nehemiah McConnell was nine years old, he began having seizures. His treatment began with prescribed medication, but unfortunately, the seizures continued. An MRI in April 2013 showed something no parent is ever prepared to hear he had a brain tumor. Nehemiah was immediately referred to John Gachiani, , central Iowa s only fellowship-trained pediatric neurosurgeon at MERCY Neurosurgery.

7 It all happened very fast, says Gabrielle McConnell, Nehemiah s mother. Nehemiah had the MRI on a Wednesday, we met Dr. Gachiani on a Friday and he had surgery the following Monday at MERCY . As a parent, when you have a child who has to have this procedure done, there is a lot that goes through your head. I was very nervous. It lasted six hours a very long six hours. But through it all, everyone did a really good job of keeping us informed. I got through it with a lot of prayer. The pathology results revealed a dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, sometimes called DNET.

8 It is a low-grade tumor that is typically cured with surgery, but can recur. Because of the tumor s size and placement, Nehemiah had a second surgery to remove the remaining tumor. When another growth appeared in December 2015, he had a third surgery. Dr. Gachiani performed all three surgeries and continues to treat Nehemiah with follow-up scans and medication for continuing seizures. Gabrielle describes him as a good communicator who is also caring and very personable. He s been so helpful about working with us, and getting us in for an appointment if Nehemiah has a problem, she says.

9 He was never in a rush to get us out of the hospital after surgery -- he took his cues from how Nehemiah was feeling. He always asks Nehemiah about his grades and how he s keeping up in school, and he ll encourage him and tell him how important it is. Nehemiah had such great care from everyone at MERCY . With three surgeries, we got to know the entire care team very well. I really liked all of his nurses and child life specialists, and he got to see some of them again when he was invited back to help with a mural at the hospital! John Gachiani, McConnell with his mother, Gabrielle McConnellHonoring your many years of dedicated service to MERCY and the patients and guests we are privileged to serve.

10 5 YEARSK arin Acheson, 8S-OncologyJanet Acosta, PhlebotomyDana Adkins, Recovery RoomSayeed Ahmed, Adult HospitalistsAmanda Akers, Medical ImagingConnie Alexander, MERCY Clinics Family Medicine South and NorwalkAlexandria Algreen, 8N-Ent-Diabetes- Gen SurgBobbi Anderson, Cardiac SonographyTaylor Anderson, 8N-Ent-Diabetes- Gen SurgChad Armstrong, MERCY College of Health SciencesTaryn Ashland, West Lakes 4th Floor Med-SurgSubha Bahtagic, Environmental ServicesTaylor Bakker, Emergency Department SkiffKim Bauman, MERCY Clinics Family Medicine UrbandaleShelby Beard, Pediatric Emergency Becirovic, Clinical Nutrition ServicesCathryn Beck-Cross, MERCY College of Health SciencesLauren Becker, Recovery RoomAdam Bergstrom, MERCY College of Health SciencesErika Berry, MERCY College of Health SciencesRashelle Bills, MERCY Clinics Pediatrics WestJessica Blaker, Cath LabMickie Bolander, Medical ImagingDavid Borg, Courtesy Shuttle ServiceStevi Breitman, AmbulanceKristi Broughton, Physician Billing ServicesCindy Ellen Brown, Patient Food Services SkiffKimberly Brown, MERCY Clinics Internal Medicine OttumwaTerri Brummett.