Letters to the Editor
Amazing team of nurses at MMC
Nurses Week has historically been celebrated every year in remembrance
of Florence Nightingale's birthday on May 12.
In honor of Ms. Nightingale's 200th birthday, the World Health Organization
declared that 2020 was to be the Year of the Nurse.
Here at Meadville Medical Center we have been making plans for months
to celebrate our own nurses. Unfortunatley, due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
we are not celebrating as planned.
During this time our nurses have bravely served our community. While our
positive cases in Crawford County have been thankfully low; we still have
to be prepared.
Our nurses are all masked, many with head coverings as well.
As I round on the units, I have to look into their eyes and at their ID
badges, to know who I am talking to.
When I look into their eyes, I see a variety of things. And while I cannot
see their mouths, I can see their eyes "sparkle" when they smile.
I see confidence. I see compassion. And I hear them say, "We got
this."
In the words of Ms. Nightingale, "I am certainly convinced that the
greatest heroes are those who do their 'duty' in the daily grind
of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel."
I am honored to lead this amazing team of nurses. Just doing their 'duty'
as the world 'whirls.'
Happy Nurses Week.
-Valerie B. Waid, Chief Nursing Executive, Meadville Medical Center
Appeared in the Meadville Tribune on Saturday, May 9, 2020
This letter is in
response to a letter submitted by Valerie B. Waid concerning respect for
the nurses at Meadville
Medical Center.
I was admitted to the fourth floor of the medical center Monday, Nov.
11, early morning. I was greeted with a pleasant room looking inviting.
The nurses were waiting for me and started my care immediately. This is
the way I was treated the three days of my stay.
I wasn't allowed to eat or drink, but I learned I could have ice chips.
Not one time was I refused. My back was bathed-yes it's true. Respiratory
people-the two young college men are learning as they go. Each and every
one of those who were part of my care earned my respect. They each took
a minute or two to help quiet my pain and fears.
After I was home a few days, I received a special well-wishing note from
"the fourth floor", listing their names.
My thanks to all who cared for me, including Dr. Carr. He was very special
and respectful to this 85-year-old former patient.
-Mary Ann Weifenbach, Conneaut Lake
Appeared in the Meadville Tribune Thursday, December 12, 2019
Invest in youth; also create drug court
The reported conversation at Wednesday's City Council meeting was
disappointing. Complaining how constituents use public space is unproductive.
Councilman Jim Roha noted,:"Unfortunately, you can't legislate
considerate, polite behavior." However, there are evidence-based
programs that could be implemented to promote positive safety, health,
economic and social outcomes for our community. There are also systemic
processes observed to reinforce these behaviors.
The City of Meadville and Crawford County government funds and approves
projects deepening the institutions creating myriad negative outcomes
and then laments the consequences. They ought to explore avenues proven
to generate positive outcomes.
Here are two suggestions for contemplation. If you agree, please reach
out and let's talk. If you seek behavioral changes in public and private
spaces countywide, create and fund accessible, safe, clean and sober spaces
for youth. Also, create a drug court focusing on restorative justice and
rehabilitation.
If you want community members' behaviors to improve, you need to model
these behaviors. During adolescence, the mind, body and spirit are growing
rapidly. We develop our children's mind for 8 hours a day and leave
them to their own devices the other 16 hours of the day.
It's common knowledge it takes a village to raise a child and as we've
moved from this model civility has declined. We need to wrap up our youth
in positive growth oportunities and help them grow into happy, healthy,
considerate and polite community members. We need to invest in our youth.
Secondly, we've wasted millions of tax dollars over the last decade
on penal institution infrastructure. Crawford County's jail population
has exploded over the last five years, nearly doubling. Many of those
incarcerated are there as a result of struggling with a chronic and progressive
physical, mental and spiritual malady. We take these sick people, isolate
them from healthy influences, magnify their character defects and neglect
treatment of the reason they're incarcerated.
Our public servants are wasting time complaining annually about problems
they are exacerbating with our money. If we want to see a change, we must
invest wisely in ourselves to promote positive outcomes.
- John Hartnett, Meadville
Editor's note:President of Not One More NW PA
Appeared in the Meadville Tribune Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Thanks to MMC for help during stay
In the mid-afternoon on November 25, the Saturday after Thanksgiving,
I had occasion to be admitted to Meadville Medical Center via the emergency
room. The reason for my admission is not the point of this letter. Suffice
it to say I needed to be there.
What is important is the people there who took care of me. In the emergency
room I was attended by nurses Dana Oster and Missy Wickert, Dr. Dan Bridger
and Dexter Witchey, PA. Upon being moved to second floor north, I was
attended by Dr. James Eppelbaum and Dr. Ann McCray and nurses Michelle
Rubaker, Hannah ( I apologize, I didn't get her last name), Gina Amato
and several others whose names I did not get.
What I am writing to say is that MMC should be extremely proud to have
all of these people on staff. To a person, they are the best. Kind, compassionate,
friendly, professional, capable and efficient are all words that apply to them.
Everything being done was fully explained to me, and my questions were
answered in detail in words I could understand. At times I wondered that
they took so much time with me when they were otherwise so busy.
To all of these terrific people, as well as those whose names i regrettably
do not have, you have my heartfelt thanks.
- Richard Hild
Appeared in the Meadville Tribune, Friday, December 15, 2017
Meadville Area Free Clinic Needs Your Help
As the 20th anniversary approaches, the future for the free clinic is
uncertain due to declining funding. The need for the service has remained
the same, not declining as some had predicted with the advent of the Affordable
Care Act in recent years.
Donations and medical volunteers are desperately needed to keep this critical
community resource viable. If you could help, contact the Meadville Area
Free Clinic at 814.337.7166.
- Duane Koller, Meadville Medical Center
The full article
appeared in the Health and Science Section of the Meadville Tribune, Tuesday,
May 16, 2017
MMC has a Great Team
A patient who was admitted through the ED with chest pains stated, "I
spent a week with you people and I just want to say thank you. The ED
staff was phenomenal! I had two staff members named Bill who were great
(William Schaffner and William Hovis). Samantha Prevost, Michelle Rubaker
and Sara Porter on the 2nd floor were so pleasant. Maria Onion was a breath
of sunshine. I just want to give everyone kudos. This visit was so different
than my last one three years ago. I also want your staff to know I have
not had a smoke since I got home and I'm not going to! I just can't
thank you enough." He also stated he wanted to mention Dan Bailey
from the kitchen and Kendra Stewart, the housekeeper, who were both wonderful.
Continuing, he said, "You guys have a great team there!"
- Anonymous Patient of MMC
This appeared in Volume 2, Issue XV of the MMC WOW News Bulletin
Friday, May 19, 2017