Not all heroes wear capes. For the past two years, health care heroes have worn personal protective equipment (PPE) to save thousands from a global pandemic that has claimed more than 7 million lives. This year, the Daily Record’s Health Care Heroes award recognizes organizations and individuals who have made an impact on the quality of health care within the state of Maryland – a national leader of health care research and development. Kaiser Permanente is honored to have three winners named in three different categories for the 2022 Health Care Heroes.
COVID-19 Heroes: The Lab Team
The Lab team at Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States has continuously stepped up throughout the pandemic, embracing innovation, and embodying dedication and determination to provide testing for more than 800,000 members in the region as well as nearly 10,000 staff and physicians. In fact, in 2020 and 2021, the Lab team provided nearly 730,000 COVID-19 test results. Kaiser Permanente was among the first health care organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region to provide drive-up testing services, which were critical to keep members and staff safe early in the pandemic. This important option also helped to preserve PPE for staff. Additionally, the Lab team administered point-of-care testing in April 2020 to support procedures in radiology and same day surgery. Early in the pandemic, this vital testing helped to ensure Kaiser Permanente members received the tests they needed for critical procedures or surgeries. Through their tireless and heroic efforts, the Kaiser Permanente Lab team helped support our region with the vital testing needed to stop the spread of COVID-19 and drive down infections so that mask-use, testing, isolation, and contact tracing could work to contain the virus.
To learn more about this award, visit The Daily Record’s website.
Physician of the Year: Dr. Ada Emarievbe
Last year, Dr. Ada Emarievbe, an Ob-Gyn with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group and mom of three, helped Kaiser Permanente earn the highest quality ratings in the nation. From delivering babies to advocating for women’s health, she has shared her knowledge around building trusting relationships with patients for better health outcomes and has played an integral part to connecting her patients to 1700 physicians in 50 specialties. In fact, one Kaiser Permanente nurse says Dr. Emarievbe’s patients think of themselves as her closest friends. Dr. Emarievbe recalls one of many patients who had not had a mammogram since the peak of the pandemic. However, when the patient arrived for an unrelated appointment, they discussed breast cancer screenings and managed to complete one in the same day. Dr. Emarievbe is committed to ensuring that her patients receive high-quality, compassionate care each day.
Workplace Wellness Program of the Year: Kaiser Permanente Workplace Wellness Team
The immense pressure brought on by COVID-19 to individuals working in health care created another set of challenges with the shift to virtual work settings. In June 2020, Kaiser Permanente began offering monthly virtual Schwartz Rounds® — Cultivating Compassion and Connection through the Power of Story Sharing — among Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group physicians and staff with Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. Through this story-sharing format, relationships were cultivated to support compassion for self and others, encourage mindful self-care, discuss coping strategies, and foster connection and community throughout the pandemic. See the Workplace Wellness Team video here.
Kaiser Permanente congratulates and thanks all our 2022 Health Care Heroes for your compassion and dedication to improving the health of our members and the communities we serve!
To learn more about this award or to view the winner videos, visit The Daily Record’s website.
