Every month, PPMC staff members who embody Service, Teamwork, Achievement, and Respect are named Presby STARs. In addition to earning recognition from their colleagues, these outstanding all-stars also receive a certificate from CEO Michele Volpe and a $100 award.
Patient care associate Jennifer Masters has been a member of the PAC 5 team for a short time, but she has already established herself as a “conscientious, thorough, friendly, and accountable” STAR. When one of her nursing colleagues was struggling with a patient who refused to eat, for example, Masters stepped in to help. The patient had a traumatic brain injury, and his inability to get enough oral nutrition was prolonging his need for a nasogastric tube. With humor, patience, and encouragement, she helped the patient feel comfortable enough to eat his entire meal.
April Dengler, RN, a nurse in the Emergency Department, is also dedicated to ensuring patients feel seen and valued. When a young woman came into the ED with an abscess due to substance use, she initially wasn’t interested in further opioid use disorder treatment. However, Dengler’s compassion ultimately encouraged her to pursue outpatient services and to take suboxone. When the patient shared her concerns that she lost her ID and couldn’t fully pay for her medications, Dengler accompanied her to the pharmacy to ensure she got the medications she needed, even paying for an antibiotic out of her own pocket. As her coworker noted, “When the patient left, she was crying and smiling” and “felt more empowered” because of the overwhelming, nonjudgmental support offered by Dengler and the team.
Thank you to all of our STARs for your unwavering commitment and compassion. You are an inspiration to your patients, colleagues, and community!
MARCH 2021
- Tonya Giles — Cupp 3 East
- Tiffany Robinson, CNA — Scheie 4
- Jennifer Masters — PAC5 NSU
- Chakita Bolton, CNA — Cupp 4 East
- Josh Edgar — Pastoral Care
APRIL 2021
- Cynthia Duncan — Environmental Services
- Tiyonna Wright, RN — Scheie 4
- Megan Brennan, RN — NeuroIntensive Care Unit
- April Dengler, RN — Emergency Department
- Amelia Thoroughgood — Emergency Department