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Monday, March 29, 2010

Visiting Excela Health

A few days ago I went to Pennsylvania to speak at a patient safety event sponsored by Excela Health. It was a pretty drive- through Maryland, across the Appalachian Mountains, and then into the Allegheny Mountains heading through Southern Pennsylvania. As Tom the driver and I drove deeper into central Pennsylvania, we passed through little towns- Breezewood, Somerset, Ligonier. I imagined these were old mining towns that were once bustling with life and growth. I was sad to see so many empty storefronts with "For Rent" signs in the windows.

Latrobe, Pennsylvania, was my destination. Tom is a history buff and with every trip we go on he always does a little research and shares his interesting tidbits with me. Fred Rogers (of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood") grew up in Latrobe, and so did the golfer Arnold Palmer. Plus, the banana split was first created in Latrobe.

The great people of Excela Health organized a wonderful event: a reception at 5:30 pm with delicious food, my presentation at 6:30, and a book signing to follow.

There were a couple of things that made this event stand out for me:

-It was held in the Fred Rogers Center - a beautiful facility donated by Mr. Rogers' family. There were glass cases that held Mr. Rogers' famous red sweater and blue coat, his blue sneakers and loafers, and the puppets- King Friday and Lady Elaine. All of this notes- yellowing and faded- that he had written for the shows were displayed in the cases. I am 44 year old. I grew up with Mr. Rogers, so it was fun to see all of this.

-Excela did something that most hospitals- at least the ones at which I have been invited to speak- have not done before. They opened up the event to the entire community. It was nice that they recognized that this topic- patient safety- was not just for the health care industry. It was about getting the patient and the family involved. This was something that I had wanted to see for many years and it was a thrill to finally be able to speak to not only health care providers, but regular people just like me.

-The book signing began much like the others. I wrote notes and signed books for doctors, nurses, board members, administrators. Then I began seeing young (really young) faces- students who were in medical school, nursing school and even students who were in high school. A young boy with a baseball cap and jeans that hung low on his hips handed me the book and said, "I think I might want to be a doctor one day." I wrote a long note to him and handed him back the book. He read the note and then stuck his hand out to shake mine and said, "Thank you, Mrs. King."

It was great to meet these young, fresh, bright minds and I am honored that they took time out of their evenings when they could have been doing homework, playing sports, chatting on Facebook, or watching TV to come hear me speak and buy Josie's Story. They will read the book and I hope their dreams of becoming doctors and nurses will come true. I believe if they do, they will always remember Josie.

Thank you, Excela Health, for all of your great patient safety work. Thanks, too, for a wonderful evening. Most of all, thank you to all of the students who came to hear me. Study hard and become doctors and nurses. You are the next generation, the new culture. YOU will make a difference in the lives of many.

-Sorrel

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posted by JosieKingFoundation @ 10:36 AM  

9 Comments:

  • At March 29, 2010 at 4:49 PM , Blogger joanie said...

    Sorrel,
    Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I am so glad you are still spreading Josie's story and making health care safer..:0)
    Joanie Latauskas

     

  • At March 31, 2010 at 10:57 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Dear Joanie,

    Great to hear from you. The story/the book seem to be making a difference so I will keep on. Hope all is well.

    Sorrel

     

  • At March 31, 2010 at 6:55 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Dear Sorrel,
    I am a student nurse at Shadyside school of nursing located in Pittsburgh PA. Today in class we viewed a video telling us the story of Josie's tragic passing and your incredible efforts to reform patient care and communication within the healthcare field. Josie's story and your tremendous efforts will stay with me for life and have affected the way I look at healthcare as my future career. I speak not only for myself but my fellow classmates in saying thank you for sharing your experience with us and for changing the face of healthcare which we eagerly venture into. Your efforts have not and will not go unnoticed. Yesterday your story touched each and every one of us in a different way, a positive way that I'm sure will help us to be better nurses providing the best possible patient care that we can give. Please continue your work in changing the healthcare system to be a better system. What you are doing is making a difference.
    Thank you,
    Brian Crago
    S.S.O.N. - S.N.

     

  • At March 31, 2010 at 10:31 PM , Blogger Brooke Sulahian said...

    Hi Sorrel - I am just now reading your book. I am reading it to better understand what a friend is experiencing as she recently lost a young one to medical error. However, in my effort to try to help my friend, my heart, through your book, has been touched and forever changed. Thank you for your courage and drive to fight for all of us and our little ones. I held my kids tighter and kissed them more deeply tonight. I hope this is helpful to you..that was my hope.

    I have never blogged before...hope I did this right.

    Brooke Sulahian

     

  • At April 1, 2010 at 6:23 AM , Blogger Brooke Sulahian said...

    Hi Sorrel - I stayed up until midnight reading your book last night. I again wanted to thank you for sharing your story and working so hard on everyone's behalf for better patient safety. I think Josie's story hit home because you wrote her story so well (she would be proud of you) and because my daughter is 22 months old. I am still brought to tears when I think if Josie's death. I was also saddened by your frustrating experience with the church. I am not sure where you are in your faith now (still reading the book), but if you are even in the Boston area and you want to attend a church where you are loved for who you are and where you are, please check out Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA. A very special place.

    Praying you and your family have a special Easter season.

    In Him,
    Brooke Sulahian

     

  • At April 1, 2010 at 11:50 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Dear Brian, Thanks for the nice note. You are the next generation-the new culture. You will make a difference in the lives of many. Please give your classmates my best and tell them to keep up the good work. We need them. Also give the good people at Shadyside my regards.Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with me.Sorrel

     

  • At April 1, 2010 at 11:57 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Dear Brooke, Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me. It means so much. I am sorry for what your friend is going through-my best to her. Also, thanks for inviting me to your church-so thoughtful of you. If you finished the book you will know that I never really found what I was looking for....I guess it is all part of the journey we are on. Thank you again for the kind words. My very best to you, sorrel

     

  • At April 1, 2010 at 3:19 PM , Blogger Brooke Sulahian said...

    Hi Sorrel - THANKS for writing back. That means a lot. You are right, it is a journey. May you walk it in peace even amidst your toughest of days. I wanted to share a favorite verse of mine as it gives me great hope of the day to come. I came across it yesterday as I prepared for Easter and I thought of you, Josie and your family. May it bring you comfort as well. Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

    My best to you...continue to fight the good fight...it is worth it! Josie is worth it!
    Brooke

     

  • At April 7, 2010 at 4:39 PM , Blogger Brooke Sulahian said...

    Hi Sorrel - I hope you are well. I just finished the book. Thanks again so very much for sharing your story, Josie's story. I believe God led me to your book so I could try to grasp what my friend is going through. I told her about you...she may reach out. I hope she does. I also feel led to pray that you do find God...hope that is OK. As Sister Damian said, God did not cause this but He is using you. I also believe He cried the day Josie died and when every child dies. Our world is not what He had planned. In my prayers my hope is that you and your family find Him so each of you can have what He offers now and after we are gone, but also so that you and Tony can hold Josie again. Do not feel that you have to write back...I just needed to share one more time. You are a woman I will probably never meet, but God placed you and Josie in my heart...I am glad He did. One last favorite verse..."For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)" Thanks for reading this note written from my heart and sharing your heart with so many of us. In Him, Brooke

     

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