Video & Audio Clips

Testimonials

From Kathy Morrish, Audiologist
Great River Medical Center, West Burlington, Iowa
"Being asked to interview a patient and write their living history is like going to the doctor and hearing, "Everything's fine. You just need to eat more hot fudge sundaes."

From Ada Bair, CEO
Memorial Hospital and Hancock County Nursing Home
Carthage, Illinois
"Sheila brought Living History to our organization and what an impact it has had. Our hospital patients, nursing home residents and families love the personal touch. One thing I did not expect was what a positive impact it had on our State and Joint Commission surveyors. We have even had families use these wonderful stories at funeral services because they speak to the life in such a personal way."

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Sheila: We have expanded the program again, and we now having Living History Volunteers for three Nursing Units. The Junior Volunteers this summer have been outstanding...and many are staying through the school year.

Hospice has their own specially trained volunteers...and this is going to be such a great fit!

Having Jean as our Trainer and Mentor has been such a big part of our success. I'm going to be presenting our system (recruiting, training, etc.) for Living History at the Indiana (ISHCA) conference in a round table, so you may get some more calls from our folks. Thanks again for all of your help and support!

Comments from Conference Attendees at Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy Annual Conference, Chicago

"Wow! Excellent! This session was worth the trip to Chicago. Absolutely outstanding."

"This touched my life! Thank You!"

"Sheila had very many good stories to connect the information. She was funny, yet passionate about her program. One of the best presentations."

"Wow! What a fabulous idea! Sheila exceeded my expectations. I can't wait to take this back to my DON."

"A Godsend. What a gift! You obviously have touched so many lives."

"Thanks for this unique progran--I will take it back to my organization for consideration."

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The CarolinaEast Volunteer Department, along with assistance from CarolinaEast Auxiliary, sponsored a weekend conference this past June with Sheila Brune, the creator of the Living History Program, as our guest speaker.

Sheila Brune is a registered nurse and is currently Director of Service Excellence at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, Illinois. Sheila has worked in performance improvement, quality management, case management, risk management, and compliance for the past 25 years.

Ms. Brune not only spoke on the need for health care putting the patient back in the center of patient care, but how the Living History program could help do that. Using the patients’ life stories would enhance their care while in the hospital. Nurses, hospitalists and other staff would be able to connect to the patient knowing something about them other than their medical information. Sheila also stated that patient-centered communication is linked with patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment plans, and better health outcomes.

Sheila Brune pointed out that those were the same points that we will find in CarolinaEast’s core values, our mission. and our vision. So, thank you CarolinaEast Auxiliary and the Volunteer Department, for taking “Here to Serve” one step further.

A little about training of storywriters and employees

     Employees and storywriters are taught how connections look and feel. They learn the three ways we connect with people we come into contact with each day.
     They use the stories as a springboard to conversations with a deeper meaning and substance. We learn to talk to our customers about things that really matter in their lives.
     We use connections to convey real "value" messages to patients and families. Connections impact our level of compassion, understanding and show people that we really do care about them.
     Connecting says we have a sincere concern and love for other human beings.

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     The Living History Program© has two very distinct parts: the getting of the story and the using of the story. They are equally important and the success of the program relies on both parts.
     Employees selected to write stories relate the experience makes their jobs more satisfying and the often feel more vital to the organization. Patients relate positive experiences with storywriters and say they finally feel someone "really listened" to them.
     Success is directly tied to the employees' personal accountability to read and use the information every day. Successful organizations make reading the story a corporate expectation and consider it non-negotiable.