Sue Bedell, founder of the Exceptional Healer Award says she is in awe of the simple human kindness this year's winners show everyday.
Credit
Matthew Manor/KHSC
KHSC’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) is thrilled to announce that Dr. Garth Smith and RN Lisa Thibeault are the winners of this year’s Exceptional Healer Award.
Launched in 2017, the Exceptional Healer Award is a PFAC initiative that aims to recognize excellence by a physician, nurse and/or allied health professional at KHSC who demonstrates the core concepts of patient and family-centred care in exceptional ways while providing direct care.
“We received nominations representing five disciplines, including physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and a physician assistant,” says Patti Cox, co-chair of PFAC and the Exceptional Healer Awards. “The ongoing popularity and meaningfulness of this award has been gratifying. The stories of the nominees and how they have supported such positive experiences for patients and families have illustrated the heart of patient and family-centred care.”
And despite the incredible impact made by all of the nominees in the lives of their patients, this year’s winners particularly stood out to the selection committee.
“The humility, contagious positive energy, and good sense of humour shown by this year’s winners make a significant difference to their patient's health care journey,” says Sue Bedell, founder of the Exceptional Healer Award. “I am in awe of the simple human kindness they show every day not only to their patients but their families and colleagues as well.”
Congratulations to Lisa and Garth for their commitment to patient-and-family-centred care in exceptional ways while providing direct care. Learn more about this year’s winners below.
Dr. Garth Smith – Pediatrics:
The patient who nominated Dr. Smith says, “He has been the family's angel protector for many years. He has inspired our family in so many ways with how compassionate, empathetic, and engaging he has been regarding our overall health and the daily struggles that our family has gone through.
“Throughout our clinical appointments, he made it feel inviting, like home. A place of acceptance, family-oriented positivity, a place to debrief daily struggles and go over any medical concerns and help us understand. We never left a clinical appointment, not being able to have fun or strike up a good laugh, and we always look forward to our next appointment. Dr. Smith and his team at KidsInclusive are amazing, we couldn't have gone all these years without the support and the amazing care he has provided for our family.”
Dr. Smith’s career has always been motivated primarily by love for his patients and a desire to help them to realize their potential.
“While totally unexpected, it is an honour to receive this lovely award,” says Dr. Smith. “My lifelong philosophy is that it's better to build a child than repair an adult and I strive to understand the circumstances that brought them to see me in the first place.
“This award means everything to me as it validates what I have strived to do and gives me a degree of satisfaction that my efforts have been recognized by those that matter most to me in my more than 35 years of practice.”
RN Lisa Thibeault – Inherited Bleeding Disorders Program:
The patient who nominated Lisa wishes everyone could experience having a nurse like her.
““Whether it is a simple scheduled clinic visit or an emergency room trip, there is no one I feel more confident and comfortable with my care than Lisa. She was the biggest support for my family during my cancer diagnosis. She is not just a nurse; she is a person who listens to all complex issues, even if that means holding my puke bucket between each complaint.
“Lisa’s ability to navigate the health care system and bring other professionals together to ensure the best care for her patients is a testament to the respect she has from her patients and coworkers. I have been an inpatient at KGH many times throughout my life and I can confidently say there is no one more deserving of this award than Lisa.”
Lisa’s motivation to provide high-quality patient-centered care stems from a deep sense of compassion, empathy, and dedication to helping others.
“I’m driven by the desire to positively impact my patient’s life. Knowing that my actions contribute to the well-being and comfort of our bleeding disorders patients is incredibly fulfilling,” she says. “I find satisfaction in building trust and rapport with my patients. Establishing a strong therapeutic relationship fosters open communication, which is essential for effective care. I feel that empathy and compassion play a significant role in providing high level patient-centered care as those qualities are at the core of a successful nurse-patient relationship, which is built on trust.
“Receiving the Exceptional Healer Award is an incredible honour and deeply meaningful. This acknowledgment validates my efforts to provide high-quality, patient-centered care over the past 22 years at KHSC.”
