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Nurses Put Heart, Soul, Hope Into
CAMILLUS HEALTH CONCERN, INC
Special Care Packages
Anna Ferguson, BSN, RN

As a Registered Nurse Leader with over 15 years of
experience in Patient Care, Clinical Informatics,
Information Technology, and Leadership, Anna
Ferguson is a result driven professional with a passion
for utilizing technology to improve the delivery of
patient care. Her passion for nursing and a strong apti-
tude for technology provided an opportunity to
enhance clinical operations and serving as the Chief
Nursing Officer and Operations for Camillus Health
Concern, Inc. since 2016.
Her roots in nursing have allowed her to serve in
several progressive roles at Mercy Hospital, University
of Miami and several healthcare facilities. Anna is currently pursuing an MBA in
Healthcare at Lynn University, Boca Raton. As a nurse leader, she provides clinical
and operational oversight and serves as the Quality Leader for the organization.
Anna has been recognized for leading several CHC quality initiatives leading to sev-
eral national recognition by HRSA and NCQA. When it comes to giving back to their “The shoeboxes are distributed to vul-
community, the Clinical Ladder nerable members of the community to
LaDonna McNealy, LPN Committee of Memorial Regional help with their personal care needs,” said
Hospital South in Hollywood tends to Valarie Grumme, PhD, RN, CCRN,
LaDonna is part of the team at Camillus Health think outside of the box to make a differ- Director of Education at Memorial
Concern, or more locally known as the Clinic at NCL ence. The team, comprised of more than Regional Hospital South. “The response
campus. When not in the clinic as the nurse on duty 20 registered nurse leaders in their from the hospital units was overwhelm-
she can be seen smiling and conversing with our Day respective fields and specialty areas, ing.”
Center clients in the Courtyard. departed from that approach for a good Hazel Selorio, RN III, Clinical Ladder
LaDonna has been with Camillus Health for 3 years - cause – the homeless in Broward County. Chairperson, presented this project to
2 years working with the clients of Jail Diversion, ISPA In an effort to bring much needed sup- the committee earlier this spring and the
and Phoenix before coming to the clinic. Asked what plies to the homeless they joined the idea was met with unanimous response.
she likes best about being with Camillus - the ability to United Way in what is called the “As soon as we saw the flyer from
freely give back what was so freely given to her! This is Shoebox Project. United Way about this project we were
a reflection from her being in recovery, and as she says The team banded together to collect fired up and motivated to take on the
of working in the clinic, she is with “her people” know- and assemble more than 100 shoe boxes, task," said Seloria.
ing the struggles and joys of where they come from. collected hundreds of items and pack- Selorio and the RN Clinical Ladder
LaDonna has 2 other blessings in her life - one daughter and one son, of whom aged them for the project. Focusing their Committee went unit-to-unit to promote
she hopes for their continued health and happiness. efforts on the less fortunate, they put Project Shoebox as a way to help those in
their hearts into each shoe box by con- need in our local community. Initially,
ducting a hospital-wide collection for the Clinical Ladder Committee hoped to
items, and personally decorating each receive 30 to 50 shoeboxes to present to
care package. Items collected were United Way. There were 108 boxes
dozens of basic essentials including pre- assembled with a personal touch from
paid phone cards, toiletries, socks, first each of the nurses by the end of March.
aid supplies and much more.

VITAS® Healthcare Partners in Support of Nurses and Patients

At VITAS Healthcare, nurses are at the core of everything we do. Empowering nurses to empower patients
They’re a fundamental part of every hospice team, caring for our patients We take great steps to equip our nurses to best serve patients and
and families. Nurses are also integral to our origin: In 1978, a registered families. Our nurses often work independently, traveling between
nurse, Esther Colliflower, and a Methodist minister, Hugh Westbrook, patients’ homes, nursing facilities and VITAS offices, so every nurse
founded the hospice company that would become VITAS Healthcare. is given a secure cell phone to streamline communication.
VITAS celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and we’re proud to be Our nurses can further their education with VITAS’ tuition reim-
the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care, caring for an average of bursement program and sign up for classes at VITAS.com/webinars,
18,000 terminally ill patients each day and their families. where all professionals are invited to learn about topics related to
We wouldn’t have made it far without nurses. Over 40 percent of end-of-life care. We recognize that when nurses aren’t caring for
VITAS’ 12,000 employees are nurses, and some of our strongest partner- patients’ families, many are caring for their own, so VITAS offers
ships are with nursing organizations, such as Florida Nurses Association, flexible schedules for full-time, part-time and per-diem employees.
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, National Black Nurses Many VITAS nurses—myself included—have gone on to hold
Association, National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations, higher positions within the company and beyond it. In South
American Association for Men in Nursing, Nurses on Boards Coalition, BY PEGGY PETTIT, RN Florida, Patty Husted, RN, joined VITAS in 1989 as a team manager
National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, American Nurses and is now senior vice president of operations throughout Florida.
Association, Hispanic Nurses Association and Black Nurses Rock. Betty Bel started as a patient care administrator in 2003 and is vice
president of operations in Dade-Monroe and Broward counties.
Forging relationships that improve lives
As an RN working at VITAS since 1983, I know firsthand the vital contributions of Lasting partnerships, proud legacies
nurses in hospice and palliative care. I also understand the value of diversity in a hos- Partnerships with nursing organizations provide our nurses with additional oppor-
pice team: the significance of being cared for by professionals who look and speak like tunities for professional growth and access to useful resources. As we continually
you, who may have grown up in a similar community, faced similar fears and navigat- invest in our employees so they may become the healthcare leaders and influencers of
ed similar situations. tomorrow, we also invest in the organizations committed to supporting healthcare
The relationships forged between nurses and patients can have a direct impact on professionals and improving outcomes for patients and families.
the patient’s well-being. Aside from family caregivers, nurses are the people with Since 1978, VITAS has had a strong commitment to South Florida communities. We
whom patients will spend most of their time. are proud to make a difference and honor and support nurses everywhere. I cannot
In many cases, nurses are the first people with whom a patient will share their inti- imagine a more fulfilling career than the one I have had in hospice with VITAS.
mate needs, fears and desires. Trust between patients and nurses is paramount. VITAS
fosters that trust by providing culturally competent healthcare services in diverse Peggy Pettit is executive vice president of VITAS® Healthcare.
communities.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com May 2019 37