McLaughlin Named Great River Health EXCEL Service Hero

West Burlington, Iowa, Jan. 8, 2019 – Melissa McLaughlin, Great River Hospice, is Great River Health System’s first EXCEL Service Hero in 2019. EXCEL stands for Enthusiastically friendly, X-ceeding expectations, Caring and compassionate, Energetic teamwork, and Leadership and professionalism.
McLaughlin’s nomination:

In November, Melissa was the on-call nurse for Home Health and Hospice. She came to the hospital for a hospice consultation, and she spent nearly two hours with the patient’s family and caregivers. Because the patient was hours away end of life, the family chose not to move the patient to the Hospice House, meaning the patient never became a hospice patient, instead stayed at the hospital for his final hours.

When the family was ready to remove the patient’s oxygen, Melissa returned to the hospital at the family’s request to support them as their loved one passed away. Melissa is a service hero because she went above and beyond for a dying person and the family, although the person wasn’t a hospice patient.