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314-238-4476
Today’s Date: January 20, 2010
St. Joseph’s Mercy Infection Control Coordinator Gould earns ‘Mercy Hero’ status
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trish Gould, RN, Infection Control Coordinator for St. Joseph’s Mercy Health System, was recently flown to St. Louis and presented a “Mercy Hero” plaque by the Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) Board of Directors. Gould, who has been with St. Joseph’s Mercy for five years, was recognized at the Board of Directors meeting for above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty infection control efforts regarding ventilator acquired pneumonias (VAPs). “As Trish puts it best, many clinicians are obviously responsible for ensuring that our infection rates stay very low,” said Tim Johnsen, St. Joseph’s Mercy President and Chief Executive Officer. “It was very nice to see her recognized at the system level, though. Her recognition was a result of her persistence in getting VAPs appropriately identified and now all other System facilities are reviewing in a similar fashion according to guidelines.” Gould, who resides in Mountain Pine along with her husband, Tom, their 14-year-old daughter, Kelley, and 11-year-old son, Zakary, says she was recognized for bringing to attention the fact that all hospitals in the Mercy System were not reviewing VAPs in the same way. “Not a simple fix, it actually took years of me pointing it out and a visit from Dr. Chris Veremakis (Mercy Center for Innovative Care Medical Director) before someone took note of what I was saying,” Gould said. “I was shocked and speechless – unheard of for me – when I received the call from Mercy and learned I would be flown to St. Louis to be recognized for my efforts. “For four years, I was questioned monthly about the number of VAP cases I was reporting, and when it was confirmed my process was correct, it was one of the best memories of my five-plus years at St. Joseph’s Mercy. Additionally, the VAP process St. Joseph’s Mercy has in place is now the Mercy standard.” Gould’s “Mercy Hero” plaque reads as follows: “Thank you on behalf of all the patients who will benefit from your contributions to prevent VAPs. They may never know you are a hero, but Mercy does!”
A member of the Sisters of Mercy Health System, St. Joseph’s is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare organization. For more information on the three large-company Gold Awards and Ambassador Award St. Joseph’s Mercy has received at Arkansas Governor’s Work-Life Balance Awards ceremonies over the last four years, as well as services and employment opportunities presently being offered, please visit saintjosephs.com.
