Patient Experience Award for Caring and Excellence (PEACE)
When No One Asked, I Stepped In
Recognized by Yale New Haven Health for Compassion, Initiative, and Real-World Impact
OVERVIEW
The Patient Experience Award for Caring and Excellence (PEACE) is a recognition program within the Yale New Haven Health System that honors individuals who go beyond their defined role to deliver exceptional, patient-centered care.
It highlights staff who demonstrate:
- Compassion under pressure
- Initiative without direction
- Accountability in critical moments
- A measurable impact on patient experience and safety
This is not a routine award—it recognizes actions that meaningfully improve how patients experience care.
THE SITUATION
In 2019, I learned about a young patient facing an extended hospital stay due to behavioral health challenges.
The need wasn’t clinical—it was human.
The patient had limited access to clean clothing and personal essentials. Something small on paper, but significant in reality. When basic dignity is missing, everything else becomes harder.
No one assigned this to me. There was no process for it.
MY RESPONSE
I stepped in and handled it directly.
I took the patient’s clothing home, washed, pressed, and returned it—making sure they had clean, wearable items during their stay.
At the same time, I supported a broader effort across departments. Staff members were donating clothes, toys, and time—checking in on the patient, offering comfort, and creating a sense of normalcy in a difficult situation.
This wasn’t about going above and beyond.
It was about doing what needed to be done when no one was asking.
RECOGNITION
I was invited to a private ceremony and presented with the PEACE Award for Caring and Excellence by senior leadership, including:
- Kerin A. Da Cruz, Vice President of Operations, Yale New Haven Health
- Patrick L. Green, President & CEO, L+M Healthcare and Executive Vice President, Yale New Haven Health
The recognition cited:
- Taking initiative outside assigned responsibilities
- Demonstrating compassion through direct action
- Contributing to a culture of patient-centered care
- Making a tangible difference in a patient’s experience
REFLECTION
I didn’t expect recognition, and I didn’t do it for that reason.
But the experience reinforced something I’ve carried forward ever since:
The smallest, most human actions are often the ones that matter most.
And those are the ones people remember.
