HAZEL CREST | Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest routinely honors employees who embody Advocate Health Care's mission, values, and philosophy. Those recognized are called MVP Value Leaders and are nominated by patients, visitors, physicians or fellow employees for exemplifying values that include compassion, equality, excellence, partnership, or stewardship.

Public safety officer Dave Eubanks, of Glenwood, was recently named MVP Value Leader for compassion. Eubanks was recognized for assisting an elderly woman who arrived at the emergency department, where the officer was stationed. When he observed that the woman was in distress and not breathing, he picked up the woman and ran her into the triage area and alerted the clinical staff. The triage nursing staff directed Eubanks to an exam room where the staff was able to resuscitate the woman, who had been in cardiac arrest. Although the patient subsequently died, her family was grateful to Eubanks for his efforts.

Public safety officer Anthony Beasley, of Sauk Village, was named MVP Value Leader for stewardship. When a suspicious individual entered the hospital without identification, Beasley was notified. He confronted the fleeing suspect in the parking lot, flagged down his vehicle, attempted to question him and was struck by the individual's car door. Despite being hurt, Beasley called 911 to alert the Hazel Crest Police Department. The individual was later apprehended.

Family Birth Center clerical associate Shinnette Brown, of Hazel Crest, was named MVP Value Leader for equality. A new set of parents followed up with the hospital's Family Birth Center days after the birth of their child. It soon became clear that there was a language barrier and a misunderstanding of how to get outpatient care. The mother became distraught and the father was shouting. Brown calmly spoke with the couple. She made phone calls to secure appointments for the family and provided them with needed information. Their concerns were alleviated because of the way Brown approached the situation.

Public safety officer Melvin Willis, of Hazel Crest, was named the Value Leader for excellence. He was working in the emergency department when someone pulled up to the hospital with an "impending delivery in an auto." Once he notified the triage staff, Willis stayed with the patient until emergency department staff took the patient inside. The baby boy was healthy upon delivery. Willis is commended for his quick thinking and for providing the staff with the details they needed to act immediately.

Information systems employee Susan Hasse, of Park Forest, was named MVP Value Leader for partnership. When the hospital's medical transcription department installed a new dictation/transcription system, there was a change for all the department computers. Hasse played a critical role in the installation's success. She stepped in when a team member was ill. Hasse was responsive, informative and had a calming influence with the staff. She made house calls to two of the department's medical transcriptionists to help them with their computers, and spent a Sunday at the hospital preparing for the go-live.

- THE TIMES