UnityPoint Health – Meriter

This year, we began a partnership with Black Men Coalition of Dane County to offer job opportunities at UnityPoint Health – Meriter to all genders and races who may have experienced difficulties in securing employment in the past. The program includes resume and job training and financial, social and housing support to our community, even after team members are hired. So far, the program has helped employ and retain 6 team members at Meriter hospital! Learn more about this trailblazing community mentorship program at https://www.bmcdc.org/.

UnityPoint Health - Meriter has been proudly designated a Baby-Friendly hospital by Baby-Friendly USA since 2006! A Baby-Friendly designation means that our hospital upholds the highest standards of infant feeding care, with only 25% of U.S. births occurring in such hospitals. At Meriter, we're dedicated to top-notch care for breastfeeding parents and their babies while respecting every person's right to make the best decision for their family. Explore career opportunities in our nationally recognized birthing center at https://bit.ly/45rgxD8. #BabyFriendlyHospital #babyfriendly #breastfeeding #breastfeedingsupport

Join us in congratulating Nancy Comello and Kate Kroes, Nursing Professional Development Specialists, Tracy Quamme, Nurse Manager and Leah Matteson, Clinical Practice Leader who were recently selected to present at the AWHONN - The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses national conference in Phoenix, Arizona! This passionate group of caretakers at UnityPoint Health - Meriter's Center for Perinatal Care each gave podium and poster presentations on their research to boost team engagement and improve the outcomes of high-risk pregnancies in our community. Congratulations team!

UnityPoint Health – Meriter was recently included on Becker’s Hospital Review’s “Great Community Hospitals” list, which recognizes 100 community hospitals across the country for their crucial role in keeping communities healthy! “We are incredibly honored to be recognized as a great community hospital. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication and compassion of our entire team,” said James Arnett, market president at Meriter. “We are honored that our community trusts us with their healthcare, and together we work to make sure our community knows how much they matter.” Read the full list at https://bit.ly/4clFH98.

We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of Dr. Joe's Cafe at UnityPoint Health – Meriter! Our new café offers a bright, brand-new space for team members, patients and visitors to enjoy delicious coffee, breakfast, and lunch. "The remodel and merging of our coffee shop and bistro into the new and improved Dr. Joe’s Cafe has been a huge success thanks to our exceptional team. Our consultants, vendors and internal staff shared in the vision of this space and worked tirelessly to make it a reality. I hope this café will continue to be a special gathering space for our staff, patients, and visitors and reflect Meriter’s commitment to this community.” - Jessica Gundlach, Construction Manager A special thanks to JP Cullen, EUA, IMEG, Stewart Design Associates, Inc. Staff Electric Co., and HOOPER, who made this possible!

Congrats to DAISY Award Honoree Tenzin Kunga, RN in the PACU! The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. Tenzin’s nominator shared, “Tenzin always had a positive attitude about the situation and not once was he negative. He was also so confident which really put me at ease during this scary situation." Thank you, Tenzin, for championing excellence and providing extraordinary care for your patients. Do you want to say thank you to a compassionate nurse? Nominate your nurse for a DAISY Award today! https://lnkd.in/g5dbhJM5

Sports and health go hand in hand! UnityPoint Health - Meriter and our care partners at UW Health recently joined the Madison Mallards and Forward Madison FC to connect with our community and share important information about how to recognize the signs of a stroke. Remember BEFAST: Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes Face: Face drooping on one side Arms: Sudden weakness or numbness in one arm Speech: Slurred or difficult speech Time: Time to call 911 immediately Every second counts when it comes to stroke. Knowing the signs can save lives!

Magdalena Reith, a nurse in UnityPoint Health - Meriter’s NICU, was recently honored with a Pinnacle Caregiver Award through Meriter Foundation’s Healing Through Gratitude Program. This award is a way for patients and families to say "thank you" to those that made a difference during their experience at Meriter. They've made a financial contribution in honor of a special caregiver who went above and beyond during their daughter’s NICU stay. The family shared a heartfelt tribute expressing their gratitude to the entire NICU team for the incredible work they do each day to make families feel comfortable and hopeful during difficult times. They also wanted to take the opportunity to specifically thank Magdalena, “My wife and I have both worked in healthcare for many years and we know the care Magdalena provided for our whole family was well beyond anything we could have expected. It was clear she cared deeply for our daughter even in just a few days of working with her… She will hold a special place in our hearts and our daughter’s story always.” Congratulations, Magdalena, on a well-deserved recognition and Pinnacle Caregiver Award! To find out more about the additional ways you can honor a caregiver, visit: https://bit.ly/42ZVfuC.

"When it came to choosing a place to work, Meriter felt like the obvious fit. My father has worked at Meriter for over 30 years. I remember walking into the building to meet my dad for lunch, to volunteer as a pre-med and to find a quiet place to study. In some ways, Meriter feels like a second home – I quite literally grew up here! Since I started in Meriter as a Hospitalist, people from different departments-physician, nurses, social workers, administrators – tell me “I remember when you were this tall coming to meet your dad.” And I regularly hear of the impact my dad has had here - of the respect, fondness, and gratitude people feel towards him, and the values and integrity he displays in his work and relationships. Working in the same building with him has deepened my respect for him and has made us even closer." - Carlos Jaramillo, IV, Hospitalist and his father, Carlos Jaramillo, III, Interpreter.

Congratulations to Amy Martin, RN, from the Newborn Intensive Care Unit on receiving the DAISY Award! 🌼🏆 The DAISY Award is a beautiful tribute from the family of Patrick Barnes to remember their son and honor exceptional nurses who go above and beyond in their care. Amy's nominator shared: "Do you have a person who you feel the most safe around? Where you don't have to hold your guard up and you can safely share your emotions? Amy became that person to me during my son's hospitalization in the NICU." If you have a nurse who has touched your heart like Amy, we encourage you to nominate them for the DAISY Award at https://bit.ly/DAISYAward1! #DAISYAward #madisonwi