ROME, Ga., Dec. 11, 2023 – When a non-verbal patient who had been at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center for about a year had to be transported to Savannah, Mandie Deering knew just what to do.
Deering, a unit secretary on the 4 West Neurology floor at the hospital, rode with the man for the over five-hour trip and held his hand during the ride. That is only one example of the dedication and care she provided for the patient, with whom she had developed a bond.
Because of her determination to make a difference, Deering has been given a BEE Award – for going Beyond Exceptional Expectations. The honor was established at Floyd last year to recognize more teammates who work in the clinical environment.
She often sat with the patient while he was at Floyd. She quickly learned many of his likes and dislikes, how he liked his meals and how to make his day better overall. Deering picked up more shifts so that he had some consistency.
When it was time for him to go to his new home, Deering asked if she could travel with him. While in transit, she provided the staff at Floyd – who were attached to this patient and worried about him – updates on how he was doing.
“I was afraid he was going to be scared and thought he would need some familiarity," Deering said about traveling with him.
“By the time he left, you were his family," Sheila Bennett, senior vice president and chief of patient services at Floyd, told other members of the unit when she gave out the award. “He was scared, but Mandie was there at his side to talk to him."