Kathryn Czaplinski
/ Categories: NEWS, 2024

SVMC nurses and technician honored for exceptional patient care

BENNINGTON, VT—August 8, 2024—Three Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) nurses and an emergency department technician were honored recently for going above and beyond for patient care.

Caraline Sprague, RN, Olivia Sandquist, RN and Laurie Darby, RN were each presented with DAISY Awards this summer. The DAISY Award is an international recognition program honoring clinical excellence and outstanding compassionate care provided by nurses. Ryan Rogge, a technician in the Kendall Emergency Department at SVMC, was recently honored with the hospital’s internal PETAL Award, given to staff who go above and beyond in their work.

Each recipient was nominated for these honors by patients or colleagues.

Olivia Sandquist, RN, the Dartmouth Cancer Center at SVMC

Sandquist was recognized by a patient’s spouse, who spoke to the compassion and expertise shown by the cancer center nurse during treatment. The nominator explained that Sandquist gave support outside of the cancer center as well, when the patient was rushed to another area of the hospital.

“This nurse walked into the room with a blanket and the biggest smile to see my wife,” the nominator wrote. “She gave my wife the blanket and spoke to her for several minutes as a friend, not as a nurse.”

Caraline Sprague, RN, SVMC Medical-Surgical unit

Sprague was recognized for working to identify and monitor a very ill patient. She worked closely with a physician team after noticing something was not right.

“It was this candidate’s excellent nursing assessment and skill that led the full assessment and work up of this patient who was then transferred to the ICU and then subsequently flown to a tertiary care center,” the nominator wrote.

“I am always in awe of this individual’s multifaceted talent as a Registered Nurse.”

Laurie Darby, RN, Kendall Emergency Department

Darby, assistant nursing director of the emergency department (ED), was recognized by a 90 year-old patient who began feeling weak after an appointment, as a result of not having eaten in the last several hours.

Darby noticed the patient sitting outside the ED and came to check on her, then brought her some food. Darby sat with her until she felt better.

“This nurse was my "guardian angel" and I learned from our conversation that she worked at SVMC for many years, and when said I was concerned that I was taking her away from her duties, she said "But that’s what I’m here for, to help people," her nominator wrote.

Ryan Rogge, ED Technician

Rogge was hailed by his nominator as “always dependable, pleasant, and trustworthy. He always has a smile on his face and is adored by staff and patients”

They also noted a particular incident where a patient had to be airlifted to another facility and needed a helmet for medical transport.

“This ED tech went and got his old Mt. Anthony lacrosse helmet and donated it to us to use,” the nominator wrote. “We placed it on the patient and they were able to be transferred. It was a very selfless act and helped to save the patient's life.”

Photo Caption: Pictured Left to right: Laurie Darby, RN, Caraline Sprague, RN, Ryan Rogge and Olivia Sandquist, RN.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVMC includes the Dartmouth Cancer Center at SVMC, the SVHC Foundation, as well as 25 primary and specialty care practices. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. In addition, SVMC is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. SVMC provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.

SVMC Contact: Kathryn.Czaplinski@svhealthcare.org

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Moving Forward Safely

One of the most frustrating and anxiety-producing traits of our COVID –19 pandemic is how much uncertainty is involved in all aspects of this disease. Symptoms caused by the Coronavirus, age groups affected, the usefulness of medications, anticipated death rate, and the timeline for development of a vaccine are examples of information that sometimes change on a weekly basis.

Vermonters have done a great job of limiting the spread of the virus and protecting our most vulnerable neighbors by following the Governor's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order over the past few months. Now, we've all been directed to wear masks in public. Both Bennington and Wilmington's Select Boards have passed local mandates requiring masks in public places. Thanks to these efforts—along with distancing, handwashing, and other factors—Vermont is among the states with the fewest number of infections. Continuing each of these important infection-prevention strategies is crucial to returning to a more normal way of life.

As we open up and begin to re-connect, we fully expect to see a rise in COVID –19 cases in Vermont. Thankfully, we have had time to prepare for this increase. We also have adequate PPE, and increased testing will help us gather crucial information for stemming the spread with less disruption to our normal lives.

More than ever, I find it helpful to focus on what we have learned and how it can help us move forward safely. Here is some of what we have learned so far: Most large hospitals, often treating over 1000 COVID patients daily, effectively protected their workers by obsessively following the rules of screening, hygiene, distancing, and masking. Each of these components is designed to work together; Each alone has its inherent limits.

  • Absent quick testing at the workplace, the best screening is asking employees if they have COVID-like symptoms (fever, chills, new cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste or smell) and to stay home if they do.
  • Washing our hands (or using sanitizer) after touching well-handled items or visiting populated areas. Washing your hands 10 times daily is not too often.
  • Though an uncovered sneeze or cough can travel farther, 6 feet distancing continues to be the sweet spot for safety.
  • Masks (double layer cotton and surgical) are effective to prevent spreading of large and some small droplets containing virus. They also seem to give some minimal protection to those wearing a mask. Since possibly 40 percent of transmission happens when we do not have symptoms, we wear our masks to protect others and to suppress overall infection rate. They also help many people (not all) to avoid touching their face. The downside is a warm chin; the upside is you may be protecting someone from a significant illness. Masks are not a symbol of government intrusion. Masks are simply a tool to protect others and show empathy.

It is difficult to predict how many COVID-19 infections will occur in our communities in the coming months. What I am certain of is that our choices, on where we go and what we do, often affect the safety of those around us. As we learn to live with this virus in our community, following the recommendation above will help us all.

Marie George, MD, is SVMC’s infectious disease specialist.

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