News Release

Surgical In-Patient Registered Nurse Earns CKHA’s “Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction”

Chatham-Kent -- Chatham-Kent Health Alliance awarded its 3rd annual Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction during national Nurses Week.

The award is a Royal Copenhagen figurine, gifted to CKHA in 2008 by an anonymous donor in appreciation of care provided to their loved one. The award comes with a financial gift to be used towards education at CKHA to further staff expertise in caring for patients at the end of life.

At a special nurses’ week event held at CKHA, Chief Nursing Executive/Chief Health Professions Officer, Crystal Houze, read from the donor’s letter of appreciation:

“I am so very grateful for the infinite compassion, respect, and high level of medical care accorded my husband in the final stages of his life at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. My husband’s illness had put him on a journey beginning with Emergency Services, passing through the stage of testing and diagnosis and ending ultimately in the Palliative Care Unit.

The very able, courageous and knowledgeable Palliative Staff kept my husband free from pain and minimized his natural anxiety. The Volunteer Resources, Pastoral Care and Palliative staff were well organized and empathetic in giving me the ability and strength to understand and accept that my husband would not be returning to our home. In their kind and caring manner, they shared their professional knowledge and their personal experiences with me in a very comforting and appropriate way.

The Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction ”is to be evidence of my appreciation and thankfulness for the tender care that my husband received. I hope that the Fund becomes a vehicle for others to say ’ thank-you’ for the same tender care given other patients and families.”
 
The recipient of the 2010 Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction is Pam Joyce, a Registered Nurse on the Surgical In-Patient Unit.  Pam graduated from the nursing program at Public General Hospital in 1971. She started on surgery following graduation and has spent her career sharing her passion for surgical nursing with peers, students, and new nurses. Pam has gained expertise in surgical nursing through numerous education sessions and conferences and has provided wound care services to patients at CKHA. Pam models compassionate care every day, in every way.

In congratulating Pam, Mrs. Houze said, “Pam, your exemplary approach to nursing and Patient and Family Centred Care at CKHA has been recognized by many of your peers, who say they feel privileged to work with you.  Thank you for your commitment to giving of yourself to comfort and calm your patients and their families during what can be frightening and uncertain times.  Your nursing knowledge and your ability to treat your patients with respect and dignity is truly valued. Thank you for being such an asset to our organization. ”

The award will be prominently displayed at the hospital, and will be presented annually during Nurses Week.

For more information contact:

Crystal Houze
Chief Nursing Executive/Chief Health Professions Officer
Program Director, Medicine
519-437-6028

Photo available from Communications & Public Affairs
519-352-6401 ext. 5119