November 2023 DAISY Award

Mona Rabas

RN - Care Manager

My parents became patients of Dr. Reitz after my mom spent a week in the ICU and we were looking for better healthcare. Mona visited our home after her hospitalization and has been instrumental in their care ever since. Knowing we can reach out with any medical question or concern has taken a big burden out of providing care for my parents. My father has since passed on, but she provided him such comfort accompanying him to many appointments when he worried about his health. She continues the same compassionate expertise with my mom to this day. I cannot express what a great service it is for DCMC to provide a Care Manager, and she is a perfect fit for the job. I’m so very grateful to have Mona on our side!

November 2023 BEE Award

Ann Curtis

CMA - Sturgeon Bay Clinic

This statement is to provide Ann Curtis a nomination for the BEE Award. Ann is a skilled medical assistant but also a person with high levels of compassion, empathy and caring. Over the many years as a patient at the clinic, she has become a very important person in my life.

To set the context, I have been a patient of Dr. Kurek for well over 15 years. Ann has been his CMA for the entire time. I am always happy when Ann is the one who greets me in the waiting room with a smile on her face. It is difficult to explain but when I first met Ann, I came to know and trust her almost instantaneously. And it continues. I have always felt safe, secure and cared for when she was with me. Lastly, Ann and Dr. Kurek are a very effective healthcare team. They both complement each other in the best ways possible.

There is a series of events that I will never forget. In early 2022, I contracted a very bad case of COVID. Fever, coughing, fatigue, body pain and brain fog set in. My resting heart rate was greatly elevated, and my breathing was labored. I felt very vulnerable. I made an appointment, and as usual, Ann greeted me in the waiting area. She brought me to the scale and then back to the examining room. Sitting down, I had difficulty breathing, felt weak, and had trouble thinking through the brain fog. Frankly, I was scared. As Ann asked health related questions and took my blood pressure and pulse, I could feel my anxiety levels lessen. A certain sense of calm came over me. Her very presence and her caring, kind demeanor, and her sense of professionalism told me I was in good hands with her and the provider.

In similar vein, I also remember well, the time when I failed an EKG test and was referred for a stress test, then a heart cauterization, and finally underwent heart bypass surgery. Ann was with me at the beginning of this process. As I walked down the corridor to the examining room, I knew something was not right. And, as with COVID, Ann was there to talk to me, ask her questions, run her tests, and in doing so, calm me down and instill confidence until the provider came into the room. From my perspective as a patient, that time before the doctors’ arrival is critical to the entire evaluation process, and my well-being. Again, it reaffirmed my belief that I was in good, trusting hands with this team. Given that I ended up having a quadruple bypass surgery, I do not think that it is an exaggeration to say that I owe my life to the referral coming from that healthcare team.

In closing, I would like to reiterate how deserving Ann is for the BEE Award. She is ideally suited for the work she does with the provider and their patients. They make for an effective and very professional healthcare team. I trust Ann, like her, and have always felt secure with her. I have been so fortunate to have Ann for this many years. Future patients will be as fortunate as will the Sturgeon Bay clinic for having her on staff.

August 2023 DAISY Award

Marie Therrien

RN - RN House Supervisor

I had not gotten a haircut in 20 years and had many split ends so when I got my hair brushed, it hurt me. I was talking to my Nurse (Marie) about it and she offered to bring her scissors from home. She came in the next day and got me into a wheel chair, washed and brushed my hair, then cut off 8 inches. That was very nice for her to go out of her way to do that for me. I appreciate her special care for me.

May 2023 DAISY Award

Niki Peterson

RN - Emergency Department

I was seen for chest pain, Niki did everything possible to make sure all of my questions were answered; anything I needed was taken care of, etc. She was pleasant and understanding every step of the way. She was also the one who called a few days after my visit, again pleasant, helpful and understanding. Then we had to go into the ER for my husband today for severe stomach pains, and there she was again. As always, pleasant, understanding, answering any questions. My husband and I are both high anxiety people, she calms it down in just a matter of minutes with her demeanor, attitude, and personality. I now know that anytime we have to go, if she is there, we will be treated amazingly and everything will be taking care of, and that we will be alright. It makes an astounding difference to us with how she interacts with us. She keeps our anxieties in check without even trying, and makes sure we are completely taken care of. She has made multiple scary and worrying situations SO much easier and easier to deal with. I thank the heavens for her!

February 2023 DAISY Award

Jolynn Reinhardt

LPN - Sister Bay Clinic

I would like to nominate Jolynn Reinhardt from the Fish Creek Clinic at Door County Medical Center as a nurse who has gone above and beyond her duties time and time again.

I am both speaking as a mom, as I have a son that has significant medical issues as well as a personal assistant for various clients—as the common denominator is Mrs. Reinhardt.

My son has been seeing Dr. Rory Johnson since around 2009 and there have been numerous appointments, lots of insurance questions and lots of ups-and-downs as well as endless conversations and Mrs. Reinhardt coordinates communication back and forth between doctors. She has gone above and beyond to make all of this possible for the well-being of my son who has a significant medical condition which complicate many other areas of his care. I will FOREVER be grateful for your unending care, your unending patience, your unending passion, professionalism and your true genuine kindness. Thank you Jolynn for everything you do.. for answering all my questions, for wiping my tears when I was so scared and things were challenging, for being Max's advocate, his nurse, his friend and thank you for doing what you do best-being you, a wonderful nurse.

I have brought numerous clients to and from the clinic and again the same holds true—Mrs. Reinhardt has always ALWAYS been there for my clients! She never makes anyone feel rushed and no matter what the question may be… she takes her time, explains things thoroughly and gives the patient the respect and dignity they deserve.

It is beyond comforting to know that Mrs. Reinhardt will always be there for my son, for my clients and for everyone whose lives she has the honor of being part of at the Door County Medical Center. Thank you Mrs. Reinhardt.

November 2022 DAISY Award

Ashley Moore

RN - Emergency Department

We were celebrating our anniversary in Door County when my wife experienced "high blood sugar." The emergency department took her and Ashley was her nurse. Right from the beginning, Ashley informed us of every step that was being taken for my wife's recovery. Ashley exhibited great compassion, professionalism, and respect beyond measure. My wife and I worked for many years in healthcare. We know good care when we see it. We did not receive "good care," we received "great care." She is an example of all that nursing should be.