Treating patients like family

As Patient Experience Market Director, I often shadow with nursing leaders as we continue to elevate the safe, quality, patient-centered care we are delivering at Memorial Satilla Health.

Recently, I shadowed with a nurse manager at Memorial Satilla and we heard one of the most heart-filled and genuine patient stories I've ever heard.

When Jamie Curl introduced herself and shared that she was doing nurse leader rounding, the patient began praising the team at Memorial Satilla Health. He listed everyone from the ER team to the nurses and the techs, the ladies who brought his menu and food, the ladies cleaning his room, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists and doctors...everyone!

He shared that they were all delivering care "from the inside out" and that their passion shows for what they do, with each doing their job with a smile.

The patient, who travels the country in a safety managerial job, knows what hospital stays are like from not only from his own personal experiences but from taking employees to numerous hospitals.

He said, "I've never seen anything like this as they have made me feel that I'm part of the family. They aren't just doing a job; they are serving a person. You can get a RN degree and it's just a piece of paper. But in this field there's so much more - and they have it here. The compassion is unbelievable."

He added, "You have the cream of the crop in one little small spot in Georgia - in Waycross. You can't tell ya'll are a business. I know you are but you act like I'm your cousin from Aunt Mary's side. You're doing a job that's impeccable, first class. Everyone has treated me as if I'm their family - their momma, daddy, brother or uncle. They don't know me but wow! Ya'll have what's first - the patient."

The patient then opened up a napkin and crumpled it, sharing how many lives are negative and hurting, especially in the hospital. As he was talking, he began working with the napkin to make it into a rose. He shared that his experience at Memorial Satilla made him go from feeling like a crumpled napkin to a rose. He then presented it to Nurse Manager Jamie to remind her of the caring team that had taken care of him.