Bridgton Hospital presented its most recent Sunshine Award to Mike Potter, CNA. The Sunshine Award was established to reward and celebrate the extraordinary skills and compassionate care given by technical support staff. Sunshine Award recipients consistently demonstrate compassion, patient and family focused care, passion about life, patient advocacy, and their support of all healthcare team members.
Potter was nominated by three former patients at Bridgton Hospital who all described him as friendly, compassionate, respectful, professional, and always asking, “How can I help you?” with a smile on his face.
One patient noted that, “[Potter] seems to know what the patient needs before the patient asks.” An example from another patient was that he checked on her several times throughout the shift. At one point, when she came out of the bathroom, her bed was freshly made and the room was immaculate. Additionally, when she needed smaller slipper socks Potter not only got them for her but put them on her feet.
Another patient in Bridgton Hospital’s Swing Bed Program, which offers rehabilitative care to get patients home quickly and safely without needing to go another facility, was so impressed with the program that she wanted to nominate everyone for all awards. She specifically nominated Mike by saying that she was quite impressed with, “the true concern that he showed for my safety and being as comfortable as possible. He would come up with ideas to make things easier for me. He especially showed compassion, respect, and never once a comment or showing annoyance with the task ahead of him. He was always a gentleman.”
Potter began his career at Bridgton Hospital in the Environmental Services Department and became a Certified Nursing Assistant through Central Maine Healthcare’s Earn While You Learn Program, which provides further education while continuing to work and be paid.
As the patient nominations mentioned, Potter has a passion for helping others in any capacity and is a wonderful addition to Bridgton Hospital and Central Maine Healthcare.
