A local woman has been recognized for her caring spirit.
Avera held its 16th Annual Quality Congress in Sioux Falls Wednesday where four Avera employees received Caring Spirit Awards in recognition of the compassion, hospitality and stewardship they demonstrate in their day-to-day work.
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital ICU Registered Nurse Carrie Heine received the Avera Caring Spirit Award in the Compassion category.
According to Avera Health President and CEO Bob Sutton, Heine had a critical patient who was losing her fight to COVID. Heine consoled this patient’s significant other and offered the EKG printout of her last breath and heartbeat. Carrie is known to sit with patients, holding their hand while listening to their wants, needs, life history and stories. Carrie advocates for patients and strives to keep them as comfortable as possible. She has also shown concern for building cultural bridges with patients and their families.
The Avera Quality Congress is held every other year to celebrate the best of the best in care and service at Avera. The 2021 event focused on the innovation and achievements of Avera facilities and employees during the challenging past year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
