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2022 Healthcare Hero: Lawrence + Memorial Hospital

Winner Category: Healthcare Staff Department: NICU • Nurse Manager: Kristen Fulton   •   Director: Melissa Swan Return to honoree page
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The NICU team strives to provide excellent family-centered care to our most vulnerable and tiniest population. The nurses and doctors collaborate with families to help optimize the care provided to their newborns.

What have been the team’s significant contributions to the organization in the past year?

Over the past year, our NICU team has helped many families overcome the challenges of having their newborns in the hospital. We have provided a supportive, nurturing environment during a pandemic where extended family has not been able to visit.

We had one patient who was with us for more than 100 days. The little girl’s name was Drue. Drue and her parents became more than just a patient and family to us throughout their stay. They allowed our nurses into their lives and trusted us with their little girl when they could not be bedside.

We were able to not only provide optimal care to their daughter, but we were able to help plan a bedside wedding for her parents a few days prior to discharge to help give them the dream they had of going home as a family.

What are some major challenges the team had to overcome?

Our biggest challenge over the past year has been having to navigate visitation during the pandemic. We had to limit visitation to just two hand-holders. This forced us to become more creative in finding ways for loved ones and parents to see their baby when they could not be at the bedside, such as by using Facetime.

What’s the team’s next major goal?

Our goal is to continue to help families in our community and their newborns. We would love to be able to continue to grow so that we can keep as many newborns needing NICU care in the New London area as possible at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.

NICU Staff

Sarah Burgess

Melissa Cappitella

Kathy Carroll

Melissa Cholewa

Lisa Ciufecu

Dale Cunningham

Melissa Davis

Janna Defanti

Debbie Dodson

Dawn Dombroski

Savannah Dorris

Tammy Eaton

Carol Gomes

Kathy Hauser

Brittany Henderson

Lorie Lund

Bethany Matthews-Johnson

Jenn McSwain

Alix Meyenberg

Brenda Moriarty

Tayla Morin

Rufus Nelson

Bonnie Ritchey

Rachael Romisher

Emily Roy

Christine Sullivan

Ann Toppino

Debbie Wyzatecki

Jaclyn Zaker

Anita Kulic

Abby Fiore

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