Melissa Burgess, a registered nurse in the behavioral health unit at McLaren Port Huron, was the recipient of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Keystone Center’s Speak-up! Award.
Presented quarterly to health care professionals throughout the state, the award recognizes those teams or individuals who, through their actions, demonstrate a “commitment to the prevention of patient or staff harm.”
Burgess was recognized for her swift intervention for a behavioral health patient. Working closely with the patient, she noticed a status change that prompted her to consult additional team members. Following a reevaluation, the patient was able to be provided with the adequate level of enhanced care they required.
“Melissa’s action is a direct reflection of her dedication to her patients and the trusted care we deliver to our community,” said Eric Cecava, McLaren Port Huron President and CEO. “The level of her commitment is inspiring to our organization and empowering to her fellow caregivers, and we are grateful and proud to have her as an influential member of our team.”
Nominated by the hospital’s manager of patient safety and clinical risk, MHA representatives presented Burgess with her award in person.
“We feel honored to celebrate alongside healthcare workers like Melissa who advocate for their patients every day in Michigan hospitals,” said MHA CEO Brian Peters. “Her decisive action demonstrates her commitment to her patient’s well-being and McLaren’s dedication to promoting a safety culture.”
Learn more about the services offered at McLaren Port Huron at mclaren.org/porthuron.
About McLaren Port Huron
McLaren Port Huron is a 186-bed non-profit hospital located in Port Huron, Michigan, with a strong history of providing quality, compassionate care to residents living in St. Clair and Sanilac counties. It has earned repeated recognition for both clinical excellence and patient safety from nationally renowned health care rating organizations. McLaren Port Huron provides a full range of services, including cardiovascular care, award-winning cancer services through the Karmanos Cancer Institute, orthopedic services, and general, bariatric and robotic-assisted surgeries. The hospital is nationally verified as a Level III Trauma Center and operates the busiest Emergency Department in St. Clair County. Other services include family birthing services and the only accredited sleep center in the region. In addition to its main campus in Port Huron, the hospital operates community health centers in Marysville, Yale, Lexington, and St. Clair. Learn more at mclaren.org/porthuron.
About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a $6.6 billion, fully integrated health care delivery system committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 13 hospitals in Michigan, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 490-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 732,838 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. McLaren has 28,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 113,000 network providers throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Learn more at mclaren.org.