FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2024
Deerfield Beach, FL: Watson Caring Science Institute (WCSI) is pleased to announce that the latest Lotus Recognition™ has been awarded to Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center (OUMC), a 318-bed nonprofit, short-term acute care teaching hospital located in Brick Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, providing tertiary healthcare to the central and southern New Jersey community.
In 2023, Ocean University Medical Center's Experience Ambassador Mo Osman, organized a poignant event for terminally ill patient Karen, ensuring she witnessed her daughter's wedding. Despite logistical challenges, a collaborative effort from various OUMC teams made the wedding a success, bringing joy to Karen and her family. The family expressed gratitude, viewing the healthcare team as "guardian angels." This story underscores the exceptional commitment and compassion of OUMC's healthcare professionals, emphasizing their dedication beyond clinical needs. The enduring friendship between Mo and Karen's husband, David, highlights the profound and lasting impact of these healthcare heroes in transforming challenging moments into beautiful memories.
“It was apparent to all who attended the wedding and through the smiles of the couple of how the selfless acts of our team turned a very difficult time into a beautiful memory for all. Each of our team members make a difference every single day. Their commitment and compassion to care for all of our patients is simply outstanding. Our team not only cares about the patients’ clinical needs, we care about the whole person. We take care of each other, our patients' families and the entire community,” says Maria Manzella, Clinical Nurse educator at OUMC.
“The compassionate team at OUMC went beyond their clinical roles to craft a profound and transcendent moment for this patient and her family, eloquently reflecting a heartfelt commitment to nurture both the physical and emotional well-being of those under their care," says Jean Watson, Founder/Director, WCSI.
For more information about OUMC, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/Locations/Ocean-University-Medical-Center. For a free physician referral, call 844-HMH-WELL.
WCSI created Lotus Recognition to celebrate real-life examples of the values, philosophy, and human caring theory guided by Watson's Caring Science and reflects the organization's caring-healing culture for team members, patients, and communities. For further information, contact Dianne Reid, Program Enrichment director, at dianne@watsoncaringscience.org.