Guardian Angel Program with TidalHealth
BERLIN, Md. – In this week’s Health Beat, brought to you by TidalHealth, WMDT spoke with Jessica Jersey, a TidalHealth Foundation development officer, and Dr. Tom Beck, and orthopedic surgeon with TidalHealth Atlantic, to learn about the organization’s Guardian Angel Program.
TidalHealth’s Guardian Angel Program provides patients and their families with a meaningful way of expressing gratitude. Visiting a hospital can be a stressful experience, and the program highlights the doctors, nurses, and staff that help make a positive impact on patients’ stays. Making a donation to the TidalHealth Foundation in honor of team members is a great way to publicly recognize these efforts.
Dr. Beck told us it’s rewarding to see the physical change in his patients as they rehabilitate over time, and he was moved further when he was recognized as someone’s guardian angel.
“For me, [he’s] actually my neighbor, and I’ve known him for 25 years now, and, he’s obviously been my patient for a long time and for many things,” Dr. Beck said. “And, it was, an honor and very exciting that he, he really appreciated what I’ve done for him over the years.”
Jersey told WMDT the Guardian Angel Program is actually two-fold — the monetary donation made isn’t just a thank you, but instead goes towards programs that can help other patients.
“Something that people don’t realize that is so impactful is the Patient Assistance Fund,” Jersey said. “So someone that is struggling to have transportation for their cancer treatments because it’s so many times a week, someone who needs, you know, medications for several different comorbidities.”
Donations can also go towards Brooke’s Toy Closet, which brings comfort and joy to children facing hospitalization by providing new toys they can keep and take home, or any other hospital specialty that the donor chooses. But at the end of the day, it’s the reason behind the donation that means the most.
“Because when someone sees someone, you know, being recognized and having an anonymous story read and it just makes their day like it, their face lights up and then their director’s…” Jersey elaborated. “It takes a spark to get a fire going. So it’s just this ripple effect and it just changes the whole vibe of that unit that day.”
If you’d like to support the Guardian Angel Program or learn more, click here, or call the TidalHealth Foundation at 410-543-7140.
