Social distancing was no barrier to “being present” during Penn Medicine Experience (PMX) Week at Pennsylvania Hospital. Held each October, PMX Week encourages staff across the health system to take time to celebrate their colleagues and renew their commitment to being compassionate, present, empowered, collaborative, and accountable. This year, PMX Week was focused on being present and engaging thoughtfully with patients, peers, and community members. In a time where we’re all urged to remain separated, finding ways to make connections is more challenging and important than ever.
In addition to thematic system-wide activities scheduled throughout the week — a talk given by author Brad Aronson about his book HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time, virtual yoga and musical expression therapy sessions, and a webinar focused on mindfulness, for example — Pennsy’s own PMX Week planning committee worked together to create slate of celebratory activities for their colleagues.
“In a sense, this was the ‘easiest’ PMX Week we’ve ever planned because the pandemic prevented us from organizing a lot of in-person activities, but it also challenged us to get creative because we wanted staff to still feel seen and celebrated,” said Eileen Murphy, MSL, director of Patient & Guest Relations and Volunteer Services, who co-led committee with Carolyn Tobin, director of Food & Nutrition and Environmental Services. “PMX Week is about recognizing our employees’ efforts and giving back. Even if we had to do it in a different way this year, we were committed to making it special for our staff, all of whom have gone above and beyond this year.”
Though PMX Week had a different feel this year, the committee preserved several annual activities, such as the candy and carnation distributions. After the enthusiastic response to last year’s employee art show, a virtual showcase was also held all week, giving staff the opportunity to get a glimpse of their colleagues’ artistic abilities. More than 20 works were highlighted in an online slideshow, ranging from photographs of the city skyline, to sketched portraits of friends, to vibrant pastel landscapes, to a COVID-19 quilt.
The Patient Advocacy Awards ceremony was also adapted in order to recognize exceptional team members who consistently champion patient- and family-centered care and improve the Penn Medicine Experience. The 10 winners and their managers came together in Zubrow Auditorium, while their peers cheered them on virtually. Congratulations to Terrence Betsill; Jennifer Lea; Rickey Lee; Carrie Marvill, MSN, RN; Marie McKinney; Julian Slowinski, PsyD; Christine Tierney, RN, MSN, SPHR; Carolyn Tobin; Ross Weisberg; and Tanya Weston!
The festivities wound down on Friday, and while social distancing guidelines prevented the normal closing celebration in Elm Garden, the committee ensured that PMX Week 2020 still ended with ice cream, pretzels, and some festive fall fun. Staff members had another chance to show off their creative chops through a pumpkin contest. The pumpkin that won in a landslide wasn’t painted or carved, though — it was smashed! Titled “If 2020 Was a Pumpkin” and created by Elizabeth Fiorini, DPT, CCI, manager of Occupational and Physical Therapy, the first-prize pumpkin hilariously captured many people’s feelings about this tough year.
Thank you to everyone who made this year’s PMX Week another success and for continuing to show up and be present for your patients, colleagues, and community during such an unprecedented time.
