Roxanne Chaney, unit coordinator for Cardiac Rehab, was Greene Memorial Hospital’s nominee for the Ohio Hospital Association’s 2018 Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award. One employee from each campus is nominated for this award, which is presented annually to one Ohio hospital caregiver who personifies a leader, gives back to the community, reflects the mission and values of his or her organization, and routinely goes beyond the call of duty. You can read Roxanne’s nomination below:
Great Leader
As Roxanne’s leaders say, “Roxanne has been leading her team of RNs, LPNs, and respiratory therapy personnel in providing efficient care and maximizing time with patients, while maintaining a safe, positive, and fun work environment.” Part of Roxanne’s time is administrative, while part of her work involves providing cardiac rehab to patients. Because of this, it’s easy for her to lead by example, and she does so with a consistently positive attitude. Recently, Roxanne identified a barrier with paper charting so she implemented and trained staff on a transition to electronic individual treatment plans instead. This change in process has saved so much time that it grew the volume of patients able to get into cardiac rehab. Roxanne’s changes have improved the department so Greene Memorial Hospital can continue to have a positive impact on the community of Xenia. Roxanne is driven by her desire to serve others, and translates this passion directly into tangible results with her work.
Goes Beyond the Call of Duty
Roxanne has a unique ability to connect with each patient who comes through the rehab program, often learning about their families and creating an environment where they feel at home. She approaches every patient as a unique individual and gets to know them as a friend. Numerous times, Roxanne has purchased birthday gifts for patients with her personal money, and it is common for her to organize lunch or holiday parties with patients and staff. Roxanne has cultivated an environment where patients want to come. As her leaders say, “Some people go to coffee or breakfast in the morning to socialize, but Roxanne’s patients enjoy coming to Greene Memorial Hospital to exercise and socialize.”
Reflects Mission and Values of Kettering Health Network
While her son was away at basic training with the Navy, Roxanne learned that several of the other recruits at training with her son were not receiving any mail. After clearing it through the Naval office, Roxanne connected several cardiac rehab patients with these recruits and the patients began writing letters of encouragement to the recruits during the lonely weeks of their basic training. This provided meaning to patients as well, as they found fulfillment in doing something to benefit someone else. After the 14 weeks of basic training were through, Roxanne’s son came to visit the unit and meet the patients who had been writing letters. Several patients were veterans themselves, and the whole staff noticed a visible improvement in the engagement of the patients during therapy following the experience. This is just one example of the creative, caring, innovative ways in which Roxanne endeavors to serve the whole person–mind, body, and spirit.
Gives Back to the Community
Roxanne has worked to implement a more active educational program in the Cardiac Rehab area, specifically by adding a nutrition class taught by utilizing resources in the Culinary and Nutrition Care department. When she identified a need for a completely new program, Roxanne then sorted through logistics to take the lead in coordinating an in-person class that happens every month outside of regular cardiac rehab time. The class provides cooking tips, recipes, and substitutions and addresses how to make a life change sustainable. Roxanne has a passion for her work, a commitment to her patients, and a desire to serve the Xenia community in specific, engaging, and needed ways.