Susan McGuire , Employee Health Nurse

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency.”  And Susan McGuire, Employee Health Nurse, is a genuine hero because of her persistence in ensuring the health and safety of the entire Des Peres Hospital organization – nearly 700 employees, physicians, students and other contract staff.

While it is her responsibility to keep precise track of the usual Employee Health list of items, such as PPDs and vaccinations, Susan takes these responsibilities to higher level of ownership.  The hospital’s 96% compliance level with this year’s employee flu vaccination initiative is the direct result of Susan’s tenacity.

Susan is committed to service, making courtesy calls to ensure that our employees who are injured at work are all right and satisfied with the care they have received.  She makes herself available beyond what is expected of her, frequently coming in on off shifts to ensure the needs of weekend and night shift employees are met.

We benefit on many levels and in many areas from her consistent, optimistic professionalism, as she leads the hospital’s Safe Patient Handling program, and is involved in Infection Control, Workers’ Compensation, New Employee Orientation, American Heart Association activities, Healthy At Tenet, and the Versant Program.  She also readily volunteers for off-site events, such as providing flu shots to the City of Des Peres.  She keeps track of so many things, and never, ever misses a beat, all while keeping a smile on her face.

A nurse with more than 33 years of experience, Susan has been with Des Peres Hospital since March 2007.  She is a consummate professional, and has recently earned a Masters of Science in Nursing Research, Cardio-Pulmonary Nursing, from Saint Louis University.

Heart health is very important to Susan, and her regular dialogue with staff always includes instructions for staying healthy.  She is constantly getting people “on board” (as she says) to stay healthy and take care of themselves, so that they are here for a long time.  For example, she has managed several 16-week “Trim Down” sessions for    employees, and organized a Weight Watchers group for employees of the hospital.  She also spearheaded the   hospital’s submission for the American Heart Association’s Fit-Friendly Companies program.  Des Peres Hospital made the 2011 St. Louis area Fit-Friendly Company Honor Roll at the Gold level.

Susan’s integrity is evident in her daily habits.  She truly practices what she preaches.  She is an excellent nurse and an inspiring person to work alongside. Susan is truly a Tenet Hero.

Lisa Welch, Clinical Educator

When Des Peres Hospital was selected to pilot the IMPACT project, Lisa Welch, Clinical Educator, emerged as a leader and hero of the process. 

Her role is generally dedicated to providing Clinical Education, but in the true Tenet spirit of service, she stepped up, quite naturally, to fill the gaps in the education of both the clinical staff and the physicians on the new Cerner system.  Lisa was fearless in the face of the launch of CPOE.  She spent long hours planning and implementing education on the system in areas where none was available or where the actual screens were unknown.

Lisa was willing to go to great lengths to ensure the success of the IMPACT project.  She developed a strong, loyal Super User Group, and even gave many individualized classes to our physicians.  In the weeks before the go-live date, she worked countless hours day and night to make sure the program would be a success.

Lisa is also our hero because she makes no excuses.  At a time when work was demanding an inordinate amount of her time, she pressed on, and completed her MSN during the height of the project’s time commitment.    While maintaining a high level of performance toward these two major goals, Lisa always wore a smile, and it was obvious to all around her that she was genuinely happy in her role.

Lisa has been an RN since 2003, and has worked at Des Peres Hospital since July 2002.  She worked as a  Graduate Nurse, RN, and Charge Nurse on multiple units before becoming the Clinical Educator.

She was involved in the hospital’s Professional Practice Council for several years, serving as Chairperson in 2009.  The goal of the Professional Practice Council is to provide the highest level of care to patients in a positive working environment, by improving communications and relations between all departments.   Lisa’s quality was formally recognized in 2009, when she was named Des Peres Hospital’s Nurse of the Year by her peers.

Lisa’s positive spirit and drive represent the best in the future of Nursing Leadership, and we are proud to call her our colleague.

Editor's Note:  Since receiving this nomination, Lisa Welch has been promoted to Nursing Director of our Telemetry unit.