Meridian Legends

Dante Turner, Cook, Food Services, Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Dante Turner, who works as a cook in the Food Services Department at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, is known for living the Meridian Way Culture of Excellence each day at work. His compassion for those people who are less fortunate and homeless prompted Dante and his family members to organize the largest Thanksgiving Day free meal in all of Monmouth County for the past 10 years. His unwavering dedication to helping people is an outstanding example of demonstrating the Meridian Way out in the community.

For his dedication and willingness to help others, Dante receive a Galaxy Award, our team member recognition award for exemplifying extraordinary service.

Stories like Dante’s inspire us all to reach higher and give our absolute best to our guests/patients and each other. That is why Dante was selected to receive the Meridian Legend Award – our highest recognition of service excellence.

Edgar Lopez, PCA, Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Edgar Lopez is a PCA (patient care associate) in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Edgar had been interpreting for a patient who spoke only Spanish, and learned that the patient’s family member was using public transportation to travel back and forth between Lakewood and Neptune. When his shift ended, Edgar offered to drive the family member to his home even though it was a very rainy night and he was due back to work at 7 a.m. Edgar, who lives in Neptune, also invited this individual to stay at his home so he could be closer to his family member. Going a few steps further, Edgar gathered and collected clothes for the patient. He even organized a fundraiser that raised enough money to buy plane tickets so the patient could fly home to be with her family.

Edgar’s extraordinary acts of service truly illustrate Meridian Health’s Quality Standard of “Professional Excellence with Personal Concern.” For his helpful and compassionate attitude towards this patient and her family member, Edgar was selected to receive the Meridian Legend Award – our highest recognition of service excellence.

Most people would call Edgar’s actions extraordinary — we call it "The Meridian Way."

Norene Klebowicz, P.C.T., Bethany Pediatrics, Hazlet
Norene Klebowicz is a Patient Care Technician at Bethany Pediatrics in Hazlet, a physician practice affiliated with Meridian Health. When a fellow team member fell on hard times, Norene didn't hesitate for a second to lend a helping hand. Norene invited her co-worker to stay with her while she looked for a place to live. Norene helped her friend find a new home, and when she moved, Norene was right there to assist. Norene bought groceries for her and assured her that she would always have someone to talk to.

By lending her support and encouragement, Norene helped turn around a fellow team member's life. For her compassion and empathy for her co-workers, and willingness to go above and beyond, Norene received the Meridian Legend Award.

Margo Limmer, LCSW, MPH, Social Worker, Jersey Shore University Medical Center
In September 2004, Margo Limmer, LCSW, MPH, a social worker at JSUMC, became a stem cell donor for the first time. She had registered as a potential bone marrow/stem cell donor during a blood drive at the medical center a few months earlier. So when the call came asking Margo if she would be willing to go through the screening process to donate stem cells to a 27-year old male diagnosed with leukemia, she didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Margo went to a lab in Brick to have the initial blood work drawn, and then traveled to Hackensack Medical Center for the actual stem cell donation. She was given medication to stimulate bone marrow growth that would increase the amount of stem cells for the donation. The entire process – preparation, harvesting and recovery – occurred over nine days. Margo had to use PTO time when she made the donation.

Recognizing that bone marrow and organ donations are essential for the survival of many individuals in the United States today, Meridian Health has implemented a new policy that grants a paid administrative leave to any team member who makes a bone marrow, stem cell or organ donation.

Margo found it very rewarding to help someone whose only treatment option was to have a stem cell donation. Margo’s act of selflessness and strength of character is a shining example of The Meridian Way.

Ron Bradley, R.N., Jersey Shore University Medical Center
When the person who takes care of you is sick in the hospital, you may not be prepared or be able to handle some of the tasks and routines of everyday life. An elderly woman called the Critical Care Unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center one night in tears because her daughter, who was her sole caretaker, was in the hospital. The women had no food in her house, no money, and no way to visit her daughter in the hospital.

Ron, who was on the unit when the call came in, went to assist the patient's mother after his shift was over. On his own time, Ron helped her clean her home, took her grocery shopping, drove her to visit her daughter, and also assisted in other routine tasks that her daughter would normally handle. He comforted the patient's mother and supported her through this emotional time when she was in need of help.

His positive, helpful, and caring attitude to this patient's mother in need is a shinning example of professional excellence with personal concern.

Lucille King, R.N., Riverview Medical Center
Working on a Critical Care Unit you are expected to perform in life or death situations, but when you have the day off from work, you don't really think that you will be saving someone's life.

While at a local school, Lucille King, R.N., from Riverview Medical Center's Critical Care Unit, heard a shout for help. She quickly responded and discovered that one of the teachers had fallen backwards and hit his head on the floor. Lucille did a swift assessment of the situation and realized that the man was unconscious. After directing someone to call 911, she continued to assess and care for the teacher. She opened his airway and found that the man was breathing but could not find a pulse.

Lucille remained with the man until the paramedics arrived and placed him on a cardiac monitor that revealed a very faint and erratic pulse. The teacher was taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery. Lucille provided emotional support and comfort to the teacher, the staff, and the children who had witnessed the unfortunate event. She rose above and beyond her duties that day to save a man's life.

Kim Spader, P.C.A., Ocean Medical Center
Kim Spader recently noticed one of her patients, who was experiencing a lengthy stay in the hospital, looking a little depressed. Kim spoke with the patient and learned that she missed her dog, which she had to leave at home.

Kim spent time talking with the patient, trading pet stories. Kim brought the patient in a wooden plaque, shaped like a dog bone, which read "One Spoiled Rotten Dog Lives Here." The patient was so happy she burst into tears. Kim knows when you are in the hospital for a long period of time you begin to miss the simple things in life. She knows it is important to make her patients happy, and tries to let all of her patients know she cares about them.

Susan Beltran, R.N., Meridian Home Care
Meridian Home Care nurse Susan Beltran, knows an illness like Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic and often debilitating disease. When an M.S. patient had to cope with a reduction in medical benefits on top of the everyday challenges, it seemed too overwhelming to face alone. Thanks to the Susan care, this one patient didn't have to.

Susan spent countless off-duty hours trying to resolve the patient's situation, including contacting elected government officials. When the patient also encountered transportation problems, Susan made persistent phone calls to resolve the issue.

Meridian team members like Susan Beltran are setting extraordinary standards for patient service by exhibiting professional excellence with personal concern.