The Blessing Health System Rewards and Recognition Committee recently created the “Exceptional Provider” awards to recognize doctors and nurse practitioners for their skills in the areas of service, quality, patient experience, teamwork and access.
Nominations were submitted by employees who either work with the providers, are patients of the providers, or both.
Winners were selected by a panel of the providers’ peers.
Now, we proudly share the winners of the first-ever Blessing Health System Exceptional Provider awards, and excepts from their nominations:
Category: Service Winner: Dr. Salvador Sanchez, MD, behavioral health
“Watching Dr. Sanchez interact with not only his patients, but vital members of our team including EVS, techs, receptionists and nurses to name a few, gives a positivity that we don't always see in a busy environment. His clinic is a busy practice, and his inclusion of all team members allows for his continued success.
He advocates for nurse autonomy, and takes pride in education and pushes everyone to continue to learn. Dr. Sanchez has helped build this program over the past 20 years. His presence and leadership give hope for our ability to continue to provide exceptional mental health care to our community and surrounding areas.”
Category: Quality Winners: Mary Kussman, MD, anesthesiology; and Pierre Raad, MD, pediatrics
 Pierre Raad, MD |  Mary Kussman, MD |
“Dr. Kussman is a great patient advocate. Most recently she had a Spanish speaking patient seeking out a Spanish speaking doctor. We all came together once this request was made known by her and came up with some options for that patient.
She brings such grace and professionalism every day to work, I admire her as a provider. I myself was on the receiving end recently and I have never felt more comfortable knowing the exceptional care that I was under with her being my anesthesiologist.
Dr. Kusssman runs a tight ship. We are all proud to be in her boat.”
Dr. Raad is one of the best doctors I have met. My children have been seeing him for 18-1/2 years. He was excellent then and is still to this day. Here is one example of why he is excellent:
Dr. Raad ordered an Echo on my second child at around 2-3 months old because he heard a murmur. Springfield read her Echo and stated she was fine and nothing was wrong with her heart. At one of our many visits with him, he heard the murmur and sent us down to St. Louis Children's to the cardiology department. There they found she had moderate to severe pulmonary stenosis. She had a cath done shortly after this visit.”
Category: Patient Experience Winner: Michael Kirkpatrick, MD, family medicine
“Dr. Kirkpatrick always has a smile on his face when he goes in to see his patients. I hear him speaking to them as we should always - with kindness, compassion and dignity. He spends time with them and explains things to them in detail every single time. He works with his nursing staff to make sure the patients have all they need.
Dr. Kirkpatrick is so good about explaining things and he remembers the history of all of his patients. He is kind and compassionate and exactly what we need in healthcare.”
Category: Teamwork Winner: Arthur Ankeney, MD, emergency medicine
“Every day he effectively communicates with the entire team with a level of mutual respect for every person on the team to make sure patients receive the best care and treatment possible.
Dr. Ankeney was on staff one day when the ER experienced a remarkably heartbreaking day, with multiple pediatric and adult traumas presenting, including one fatality. Dr. Ankeney not only provided exceptional care to each of the patients and ensured they each had appropriate follow-ups, but he spent the time to check on staff’s wellbeing. He showed great compassion to the family members during a very difficult time. He also showed that same compassion to direct and indirect staff members involved in the care of these patients. Although this was a very hard day for staff, we witnessed the exceptional care provided and are proud to be part of the Blessing team.”
Category: Access Winner: Bill Andel, APRN-BC, orthopedics and sports medicine
“Bill Andel comes in to work every day with a smile and with one mission in mind; "what can we do to help our patients today?"
He is open to seeing patients at any time, even if they present without an appointment. He has a deep empathy for patients and their needs, wanting to help in any way he can - even providing his personal cell number for them to call at any time. He never says 'no', knowing access to care is what is needed.
He can be found on the sidelines of local high school sports events, to assist and treat injuries.”