(June 21, 2024) – The Kansas Hospital Association's Heart of Health Care Worker Award highlights hospital employees who have made a significant contribution to the betterment of their hospital. These individuals are nominated for this award because they routinely go above and beyond the call of duty.
At Smith County Memorial Hospital, Cassi Mick embodies the heart of health care through her unparalleled commitment to patient care, exceptional leadership and role-model behavior. For three years, during a staffing shortage, Mick was the only respiratory therapist on staff, covering a variety of critical services, from delivering newborn babies to ensuring airways in the emergency room.
Beyond her commitment, Mick cultivates a positive environment through her helpfulness, willingness to teach and kind and upbeat personality. In 2023, she served as the respiratory therapist for an astounding 78 births, providing expert care during these critical moments.
Mick has been instrumental in keeping SCMH current with technology and staffing. With her expertise, SCMH acquired heated high-flow equipment instrumental in treating COVID-19 patients. This equipment allowed staff to care for extremely ill patients and achieve positive outcomes. Patients were able to be treated in their hometown hospitals at the same level of care as tertiary centers during an uncertain time in health care when bed availability in larger institutions was scarce.
Mick also implemented pulmonary rehab as an outpatient therapy at SCMH. Pulmonary rehab is an educational program, combined with supervised exercise sessions, for patients with chronic diseases such as COPD and pulmonary hypertension.
Mick mentors work-study students and interns as a teacher, imparting invaluable wisdom. She loves guiding youth in learning how to provide excellent patient care, teaches advanced certification courses and mentors co-workers on building their clinical skills and competencies.
Mick and other Heart of Health Care Worker Award nominees will be recognized during the KHA Awards Luncheon at the 2024 KHA Annual Convention on Sept. 5, 2024, at Sheraton Overland Park/Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park.
--Shelby Stacy