UnityPoint Health – Meriter

A huge thank you to Antonio and Juan, Food and Nutrition team members at UnityPoint Health - Meriter, who teamed up to cook delicious Tacos Al Pastor, Elotes, Mexican Rice and Salsa recipes that have been passed down through Antonio's family for generations. Thank you for sharing these delicious recipes with our hospital team, patients and visitors to celebrate Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month! #hispanicheritagemonth

UnityPoint Health – Meriter recently hosted its second cohort of Manager Core, a dynamic three-day training designed for all managers across the organization! “It was so enjoyable being able to connect with other leaders in our organization in this way, created a deeper feeling of connection to the entire organization as a leader at an office clinic.” – Brad Rupnow, Rehab Therapy Manager “I’m grateful for the investment UPH is making in its leaders. It was so rewarding to learn from our trainers and from each other about how to navigate change and difficult situations. It gave me a sense that we’re all in this together.” – Hannah Wente, MPH, Communications Manager

“When I was a little girl, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37,” reminisces Amanda Wilbur. “Although I don’t remember much from that time, it has always had an impact on me knowing my mom is a breast cancer survivor.” Two years ago, her sister was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, her sister won her battle and is now cancer free. As Amanda watched her navigate treatment and surgery it was eye-opening and made her realize she had made the right career choice. Fourteen years ago, when Amanda Wilber started her career in Medical Imaging, her goal was to work in the mammography field due to her personal connection to breast cancer. She feels fortunate her journey led her to join the UnityPoint Health-Meriter Monona mammography team three years ago. Her team’s compassion and dedication to their patients is apparent by being recognized for achieving 100 % “Likely to Recommend” in patient satisfaction surveys. “I love working with women to help them feel at ease and as comfortable as possible during their exam,” she says. As we approach October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Amanda emphasizes the importance of early detection. “A routine screening mammogram is the best way to catch breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable,” explains Amanda. “I encourage everyone to take control of their health and schedule their screening.” Join us in celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month by talking with your provider about the right time to screen based on your age and family history. Learn more about mammography at https://lnkd.in/dRZ5DK6v.

Congratulations to Crystal Griffin, RN in the UnityPoint Health - Meriter Birthing Center, who was recently honored with a DAISY Award! Crystal was recognized with this prestigious award from the The DAISY Foundation for her unwavering compassion, empathy and expertise with her patients. Crystal's nominator shared: "It was such a blessing to have a nurse who was willing to listen, empathize and work beyond standard practices to prioritize my preferences for my health and birth plan" If you had a nurse who touched your heart like Crystal, we encourage you to nominate them for the DAISY Award at https://bit.ly/DAISYAward1! #DAISYAward #madisonwi #nursingjobs

Are you a CNA, CMA or RN looking for an exciting career opportunity? Look no further! Join us tomorrow, October 3 for UnityPoint Health - Meriter's tailgate party & hiring fair! 🏈 Don't miss out on food, games, prizes and on-the-spot interviews with our hiring leaders. Wear your favorite team shirt and bring your resume to explore open positions with sign-on bonuses available! At UnityPoint Health, our healthcare heroes are the real MVPs! Register at https://lnkd.in/gVJbb4rf.

UnityPoint Health - Meriter is proud to receive the following 2024 Madison Magazine "Best of Madison" awards: 🥇 Gold for BEST Fertility & Birthing 🥈 Silver for BEST Hospital Thank you to all our amazing community members who nominated and voted for our team! We are so proud to deliver another year of compassionate and expert care to the Madison area! And shout-out to our partner, UW Health who received gold for BEST hospital! #BestofMadison #madisonwi #healthcarejobs

September is #PainAwarenessMonth! When patients are receiving treatment at UnityPoint Health - Meriter, we believe in caring for them as a whole person. Thanks to a generous grant from Meriter Foundation and our amazing pain management team, non-pharmaceutical pain toolkits are available throughout the hospital. With activities to keep minds and hands busy like eye masks, stress balls, putty and radios, our goal is to enhance comfort and alleviate boredom while receiving treatment. Learn more about our commitment to pain management at https://lnkd.in/gc9E85ed.

When I was growing up, I remember my dad telling us stories about how he had been punished in school for speaking Spanish. He often said he was made to feel his cultural traditions were a bad thing. My dad was so worried that us children would face the same discrimination he had, so he was adamant that my parents, both fluent, not teach us Spanish. For my dad, he felt pressure to prove himself as a professional, and he worked hard to be taken seriously and protect his family. In his eyes, being accepted meant sacrificing some of our heritage, and I've come to understand that he did so to shield us from the challenges he had faced. Growing up with a Hispanic dad and a White mom, I quickly learned that society wants to put people in boxes. I remember feeling not Latina enough because I didn’t speak Spanish, yet not feeling White enough because I looked different and had different family norms and expectations compared to my peers. Today, as Director of Patient Experience at UnityPoint Health – Meriter and a Social Worker by trade, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with people from a variety of backgrounds. Above all, this work has taught me that each person has a unique experience regardless of the box in which society attempts to place them. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I feel a deep sense of pride in my heritage and honor it in my own way— through family traditions and the values passed down to me. It’s important to recognize that while culture is sacred, every person’s experience is unique. We must strike a balance between honoring cultural values and understanding the individual stories behind them, staying open-minded and curious about the richness of each person’s life journey. - Amy Garza, Director of Patient Experience and Volunteer Services at UnityPoint Health - Meriter #HispanicHeritageMonth2024

"There are several reasons why mental health concerns may arise for kids and teens during the back-to-school season. The results of the Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey highlight many important points and what stands out to me is a theme of isolation. We are social creatures - young people especially! We know that isolation often worsens depression and other mental health concerns. Unfortunately for many it seems that the return of the school year can bring up feelings of isolation, which probably arises from a variety of factors ranging from feeling unsupported in school, feeling like they don't belong or fit in with their peer group or from experiencing bullying. Add to this the pressure to do well academically, to keep up with demanding schedules and expectations in a system that is still recovering from a global pandemic. It's a tremendous amount of pressure and as resilient as our youth are, it's no wonder that they are struggling. Importantly, the survey also highlighted that certain subgroups of children in particular are struggling more, including female students, students of color, LGBTQ youth, and students with chronic medical conditions, among others. It's important for kids and teens to know, though, that they are not alone. First of all, this survey shows that there are many students struggling with mental health concerns including depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. It's also important to recognize that there are supportive adults in the school setting and in the community who are there for you to talk with if you're needing support. Your school may have a guidance counselor or a school psychologist who is capable of helping you navigate this, for example. There are also therapists and psychiatrists in the community who are there to provide professional support. Learn more about your options at https://lnkd.in/d5jb6pSA. For parents, it is important to recognize that your teen may need your support right now. If it seems as though they are struggling in some way with school starting up, recognize that it may actually be due to depression or anxiety concerns and they may benefit from checking in with you, or with a mental health professional. Remind them that they are not alone. Also recognize that there are increased risks for suicide in youth during this time, and know that it is okay to ask them specifically if they are having suicidal thoughts--it doesn't make it more likely that they will think about it or act on it, but it will actually make it more likely they will let you know if they are in danger. Know that the suicide hotline (988) is a resource available 24/7 and that primary care physicians or even emergency medical care may be an appropriate option to consider if safety concerns arise." - Dr. Maurizio Pugliese, Psychiatrist at UnityPoint Health - Meriter Child & Adolescent Psychiatry #suicideawarenessmonth #SuicideHotline #Dial988

Congratulations to all the amazing UnityPoint Health - Meriter nurses who were recognized as honorable mentions for Madison Magazine's list of 2024 Top Nurses! Thank you for the expertise, compassion and dedication you bring to our patients each day. Check out the full WISC-TV story on Madison's best nurses at https://lnkd.in/gfNmGJNh.