Bridgton Hospital presented its most recent Sunshine Awards to Carrie Harding and Kelly Rugg who work in the Dietary department. 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.
Harding and Rugg were nominated by a patient’s family for going the “extra mile” for a patient who receives regular treatments at the hospital. During one treatment a nurse found out that the patient’s favorite dessert was pie so the nurse went to the cafeteria to get the patient a slice. After giving it to the patient the nurse found out that pie was no longer part of the dietary plan, but Harding and Rugg asked what the patient’s favorite pie was and when the next appointment was scheduled.
During the next appointment the patient received some dismal news. A family member went to the cafeteria for some food, returning to find three pieces of Boston Cream pie, the patient’s favorite. One container had a heart drawn on it with a lovely message. As the story said, “This pie turned tears to a smile, and the smile became laughter during a time of devastation.”
Harding and Rugg exemplify the high-quality care and compassion Bridgton Hospital strives to provide every patient, every day in all departments. Their thoughtfulness and desire to make someone’s day a little better speak volumes about their desire to make a difference in caring for the whole patient. They are both wonderful additions to Bridgton Hospital and Central Maine Healthcare.
