Maggie Rhoads
March 2020
Maggie
Rhoads
,
RN
Cardiac
Lancaster General Hospital, Penn Medicine
Lancaster
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

I was in Lancaster General Hospital for five days. Maggie Rhoads RN led at least three shifts supervising my care. The care received from all shifts was outstanding. Maggie's was above and beyond!
I will comment on each of the five criteria for The DAISY Award, however, the area of patient advocacy stands above all in my case. I am a retired Admiral and a nuclear engineer. Maggie figured out on my arrival that I needed to understand what was going on in my care. My care involved communication with Pulmonary and Congestive Heart departments. She more than met my need for an advocate with my health care team. She patiently communicated with me frequently. I think I got out of the hospital two days earlier than I would have if she had not become my advocate. She is a great communicator. She never seemed hurried or hassled. "Professional" is a good descriptive of her demeanor.
Empathy and a caring attitude are a part of who she is. I hated the requirement that my bed and chair were alarmed since I was a "fall risk." I tried every way I could think of to get her to relax that rule. She never would, but was so obviously concerned about me as a person and not a problem that I finally gave up and quit trying.
Maggie knows her stuff. I had a chest tube, was in atrial fib and the doctors were adjusting my meds throughout my stay. Her team on her shift was well organized, responsive, and followed her lead smoothly. Leadership is my specialty. Maggie is a leader. My health care experience under her care was superb and she was a wonderful role model for her team. On several occasions, I had visits from my doctors in the Pulmonary and Heart areas. When I commented on the good care I was receiving from Maggie I got quick agreement.
Finally, Maggie always took the time to get the task/briefing/ procedure done in a way that could only be described as "Quality Care." Time is the keyword. I was aware of the demand for her time on 6 Frederick. Somehow, she never conveyed anxiety about time. She did what needed to be done.
Maggie is a credit to LGH and a true DAISY Nurse.