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For Immediate Release
January 22, 2004
Mercy Memorial
Receives Omega Award
Ardmore - Mercy
Memorial Health Center recently received the 2003 Omega Award for the
facilities innovations in end-of-life care. The award, given by the
Oklahoma Alliance for Better Care of the Dying, is presented annually to
healthcare facilities that provide innovative end-of-life care to hospital
patients and nursing home residents.
The Mercy Memorial
team was specifically recognized for innovations including palliative care
pre-printed physician orders, a nursing care plan designed distinctively
for patients at the end of life, an advance directive summary card,
palliative care shift assessment, an end-of-life nursing education program
and care of the dying patient policies and procedures.
Sister Jolitta
Konecny, former pastoral care manager, was also recognized as Mercy
Memorial's unsung hero. Konecny was praised for her awareness of spiritual
issues, adherence to patients advance directives and making it possible to
discuss and resolve end-of-life ethical issues.
The Oklahoma
Alliance for Better Care of the Dying is a statewide partnership of
organizations and individuals working to foster competent, comprehensive
and compassionate end-of-life care that is accessible to all Oklahomans.
Awards were presented in Oklahoma City by Attorney General Drew Edmondson
who commended honorees for providing such sensitive care.
"The end of a
person's life can be such a difficult time for everyone involved,"
said Kay Trager, Mercy Memorial nursing support services. "There is
nothing easy about death but we make it our mission to ensure that our
patients and their families are as comfortable as possible and that they
are shown great mercy in their last days of life."
Mercy's Palliative
Care Team is composed of the following co-workers: Richard Brochu,
pastoral care manager; Mike Claborn, RN, TCU; Gina Davis, administration;
Jennet Dugger, RN, nursing informatics; Darin Farrell, RN, nursing support
services manager; Bonnie Hollingsworth, RN, The Birthplace; Sister Jolitta
Konecny, former pastoral care; Judy Lewellen, RN, TCU; Pam Picklesmier,
RN, TCU; Anne Stolfa, social services; Gay Thomas, RN, post acute
director; Kay Trager, RN, nursing support services.
Mercy Memorial
Health Center is a member of Mercy Health System of Oklahoma and the
Sisters of Mercy Health System-St. Louis.
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