“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
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Kim Solberg, MD, Chair of the GBMC Department of Psychiatry, was awarded the GBMC’s 2010 Nancy J. Petrarca Compassionate Caregiver Award at this month’s Schwartz Center Rounds. “I am deeply honored to have been chosen for GBMC’s Compassionate Caregiver Award,” said Dr. Solberg. “The nominees are all the kind of care providers that anyone would be fortunate to have been cared for by. It is truly humbling to have been considered among them."
The Nancy J. Petrarca Compassionate Caregiver Award was established in 2008 as part of the Schwartz Center Rounds Program at GBMC as a way to honor those caregivers who display extraordinary compassion in caring for patients and their families.
“Everyone who has had the pleasure of caring for a patient with Dr. Solberg knows that she has endless compassion,” said colleague Hanita Sawhney, MD. “Whether caring for the patient, helping distressed family members cope with their loved one’s illness or helping staff care for a challenging patient, Dr. Solberg is able to give boundless time and energy to a situation.”
In a letter supporting Dr. Solberg’s nomination, colleague Kathy Tracey noted the patient safety efforts and staff support that that Dr. Solberg has championed at GBMC. “Dr. Solberg was instrumental in modifying four patient rooms to improve their safety for high risk MedPsych patients,” Tracey noted. “Patient care is extremely stressful and Dr. Solberg recognizes the need to care for the caregivers. She clearly represents GBMC’s mission of Health, Healing and Hope.”
Several colleagues commented on Dr. Solberg’s active role in interacting with all aspects of a patient’s care team - including nurses, case managers, social workers, and fellow physicians – along with family members – to ensure they have the best possible care and outcome.
The award was given by Dr. John Adams, Emeritus Chairman of the Department of Pathology and founder of the Schwartz Center Rounds at GBMC. He spoke fondly of Dr. Solberg and her instrumental role in implementing the Schwartz Center Rounds at GBMC three years ago.
The four GBMC staff members receiving Honorable Mention recognition in this year’s Nancy J. Petrarca Compassionate Caregiver Award are:
o Dottie Martin (NST Unit 36 MedPsych- 40-year GBMC employee)
o Kathy Ruane (Community Benefit Senior Outreach, 5- year GBMC employee)
o Brian McCagh (Berman Cancer Institute, 3- year GBMC employee)
o Lori Kantziper, RN (Clinical Partner Unit 25/26, 8- year GBMC employee)
About Schwartz Center Rounds
Started a decade ago at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, the Schwartz Center Rounds concept was formulated by a dying lung cancer patient, Kenneth B. Schwartz, who felt that fostering relationships between patients and caregivers provided hope to the patient and sustenance to those who are committed to the healing or dying process. Schwartz established an endowment to fund a regular forum for caregivers to exchange their feelings and thoughts around the empathetic engagement that is truly at the root of compassionate care. John Adams, MD, a retired chief of pathology at GBMC, brought the Schwartz Center Rounds concept to GBMC after losing a friend to cancer. His vision and philanthropy have created an endowment fund to underwrite the cost of administering the rounds concept at the hospital. The fund is named in honor of his friend, Nancy Petrarca. The first Schwartz Center Rounds, where caregivers from all disciplines discussed the difficult emotional and social issues that arise in caring for critically ill patients, was held at GBMC in June 2007. Now, every other month, a forum is held on a different topic, similar to other rounds that occur in more than 115 hospitals in 26 states across the country.