THE LITTLE THINGS The I CARE Award doesn’t just go to seasoned nurses, and Lisa Frankart is a perfect example. She has been at Houston Methodist St. John Hospital since 2009 — before it was acquired by Houston Methodist — and received her BSN in May 2016. She is currently a charge nurse on 3 Surgical, and her manger, Aaron Arias, describes her as “an extremely valuable member of the team.” “Lisa embodies the I CARE values. She always has a smile on her face, and if asked to help out with something, the answer is emphatically ‘Yes!’” Frankart was also nominated by a PCA who mentioned times when Frankart went above and beyond to make her patients happy.
“For one of our elderly patients, she made brownies to cheer her up. It meant everything to the patient,” said Cathy Mahlstedt. “Another time, she bought a sippy cup for one of our pediatric patients and also a stuffed bear to help ease the child’s hospital stay. This meant a lot to the mom who left his cup at home and to the child who was able to cuddle with the stuff bear.” Frankart says she doesn’t really know why she won, but feels it was all the little things she does.
SYMBOL OF EXCELLENCE Those who wear gold badges are widely noticed by patients, who often ask what the badges mean. Each gold-badge holder has a responsibility to explain the Houston Methodist I CARE values and why they’re important. When Manapul is asked about her badge, she tells patients. “When you provide excellent patient care and you’re passionate about it, you get a gold badge!”
Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of “When I was at the (I CARE Award Houston Methodist, emphasizes the ceremony) and was hearing the other importance of the I CARE values often. winners’ stories, I turned to my dad and asked ‘Why am I here?’ But while “Patients may not know our five values I do think the big things are wonderful, by heart, but they know them when I think it’s the little things that make they experience them,” he said. a big difference. That’s what people “I CARE is the engine that runs remember — the little details.” Leading Medicine. Patients come to our hospitals for our clinical expertise and innovative treatments, but they come back because of the extraordinary patient experience that results from these values.” To those who proudly wear the gold badge, the values have an even greater meaning to them. According to Mauricio, “The gold badge is truly a badge of honor and people wear it with pride. When you see it on someone, you know they did something extraordinary.”
Carolyn Waddington, RN, Houston Methodist Hospital
“I can honestly say Carolyn was living the I CARE values long before they were formally introduced into the Houston Methodist culture.” LEADERS IN NURSING | WINTER 2017 13