Among more than 71,000 employees, Iowa hospitals have countless examples of amazing people doing outstanding work.  Each year, IHA honors some of those employees as Iowa Hospital Heroes.  In the coming weeks, IHA will share the stories of our 2009 Iowa Hospital Heroes.  Below is our Hero for this week: 

Edra Fouts
Stoddard Care Coordinator
Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines

At the John Stoddard Cancer Center at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Registered nurse Edra Fouts makes a difference in the lives of her patients and their families on a daily basis. From the first day she arrived at Stoddard, Edra did everything possible to make sure her breast cancer patients received the best care possible.  She cares for each and every one of them with her whole heart.

Recently, Edra spent several hours at the end of her day with a dying patient to help write cards to the patient’s three children and mother for special events (birthdays, Mother’s Day, graduations). Edra didn’t think twice about spending countless hours with the patient to make sure the cards were finished.

Somehow, Edra still finds time to dedicate herself to a number of other projects, including Pink Saturdays, a free mammogram screening partnership; serving on the Polk Metro Breast Cancer Committee; traveling to Washington, D.C. to lobby for breast cancer implants for her patients; serving as a Komen for the Cure board member for one year; facilitating a multidisciplinary breast cancer conference; and mentoring new Stoddard Care Coordinators. Edra has also made herself available for countless presentation requests on breast cancer, traveling to area businesses, churches and leadership groups to share her knowledge.

Edra is a Hospital Hero because of her endless dedication to her patients and in the fight against breast cancer. Watching patients who have become friends pass away from the disease is not an easy thing to do. But Edra strives to do everything possible to make sure her patients are receiving the best care and support they need to fight cancer. She never thinks twice about giving of herself and is truly an amazing nurse, friend and hero.

Among more than 71,000 employees, Iowa hospitals have countless examples of amazing people doing outstanding work.  Each year, IHA honors some of those employees as Iowa Hospital Heroes.  In the coming weeks, IHA will share the stories of our 2009 Iowa Hospital Heroes.  Below is our Hero for this week: 

Timi Brown
Med-Fit Coordinator
Covenant Medical Center, Waterloo

Timi Brown has been with Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare for 20 years, working in the Recreational Therapy Program and most recently at Wellness Services as the Medical Fitness Coordinator. She has an amazing “never give up” attitude and shows endless compassion for her patients! 

A phenomenal recreational therapist with excellent clinical skills, Timi works with patients with all types of medical conditions, ranging from stroke, cancer, obesity and diabetes, to severe arthritis, fibromyalgia and cardiac rehab issues. But what makes Timi stand out from most in her profession is her unconditional commitment to making her patients healthier, physically and mentally. She is an advocate for the “underdog” and cheers on those who may be written off by others. 

Whether by working with children in the Hals Pals Program for youth or teaching post-chemotherapy cancer patients how to rebuild their strength, Timi is always there. She goes beyond the call of duty – at times going to a patient’s home to see how they are doing or to deliver clothes and household items she purchased because the patient is not able to afford basic necessities. 

Timi has written numerous grants to fund Wellness Services that benefit many patients in the Cedar Valley. This past year, Timi worked on a grant through the Iowa Legislature to fund childhood obesity and programs like Hals Pals and Med-Fit to help those who wouldn’t be able to afford such services. Timi Brown has an amazing spirit about her and passes on good will to all around by the wonderful attitude she carries daily. She makes people smile, laugh and, most importantly, feel good about who they are. 

Timi is truly a hero to her co-workers and her patients and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare is very fortunate to have her as an associate.

Among the more than 70,000 people who do their work in Iowa hospitals every day, there are countless heroes. To recognize and promote these individual hospital employees who contribute heroically and selflessly to Iowa hospitals, patients and communities, the Iowa Hospital Heroes Awards will be presented at the 2009 IHA Annual Meeting in Des Moines. Hospitals are encouraged to nominate outstanding employees who measure up to the Iowa Hospital Heroes criteria. Read more

The fifth annual 100 Great Iowa Nurses celebration, a ceremony created for the state of Iowa by nurse and community leaders, will be held on May 3, 2009 in Des Moines.

Each year 100 Great Iowa Nurses are selected for this honor, representing many sectors of health care, including hospitals, long-term care facilities and school and office nurses.

Recipients from prior years are invited back to be recognized at the event and the 2009 awardees will invite family, friends and colleagues to share in the recognition of their outstanding achievements. You can see a state map showing the represented counties and their recipients on the Great Iowa Nurses website.

The Iowa Hospital Association is proud to be a supporting sponsor of this statewide event.