Media Contact:
Allison Kenty
207-283-7233
akenty@smhc.org
The vital role of the respiratory therapist was highlighted by the pandemic and team members like Cheryl Dedian responded with an extraordinary and selfless dedication to excellence and compassion. Dedian rose to the challenge, to not just learn new techniques and treatment as our knowledge of the virus evolved, but master them. She was routinely assigned to the Special Care Unit where she often treated an excess of six ventilated patients. She became the expert on life-saving proning maneuvers and often took the lead to prone appropriate COVID-19 patients.
Margaret Weed, Respiratory Therapy Manager, stated, “Cheryl maintains a strong clinical presence and demonstrates an expertise in which other disciplines will seek her out for her assistance. She is recognized for going above and beyond in demonstrating care, compassion and professionalism. She believes in treating her patients the same way she would want her family or herself to be treated. She has a way of making people in her presence feel comfortable and safe. She is smart, competent, respectful, kind and positive. Cheryl continuously offers her knowledge - along with a helping hand.”
The Caregiver of the Year award is chosen based upon patient comments and peer recommendations throughout the organization. The recipient must meet the following criteria: exemplify extraordinary commitment to patients on a daily basis; show compassion, empathy and respect in the delivery of care to patients and their families; acknowledge and meet the unique physical, emotional and practical needs of patients and their families and; promote an environment of cooperation and collaboration in which the expertise and experience of all healthcare professionals are available to patients.
“Cheryl exemplifies our values and these standards of excellence with every single shift and we are grateful for her unwavering dedication to our patients and care team as we strive to fulfill our vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” added SMHC President, Nate Howell.
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About Southern Maine Health Care
Southern Maine Health Care (SMHC) is a national award-winning healthcare organization with a non-profit mission “to improve the health and health care of the communities we serve.” SMHC includes a full service, acute care medical center in Biddeford, with York County’s only inpatient mental health unit. Emergency care, surgical services and diagnostic and therapy services are available at SMHC’s Medical Centers in Biddeford and Sanford. SMHC offers primary care and multi-specialty physician services, diagnostic and therapy services and Walk-In Care centers in York County communities including Biddeford, Kennebunk, Saco, Sanford and Waterboro. SMHC is Joint Commission accredited and has been recognized for quality excellence by numerous outside organizations. SMHC is part of the MaineHealth system, a growing family of health care services in northern New England. To learn more, visit www.smhc.org.