Blood clinic team honoured with a SMILE
A visit to the blood clinic at SickKids can be a nerve-wracking experience for both children and parents. The blood clinic team aims to ease those nerves from the very second a family enters the clinic. Andrea, who works at the front desk, is the first face most people see when they visit the clinic.
As a greeter and flow coordinator, she immediately helps to ease the nerves of families and their children with a smile, hello and some friendly banter.
“We will sing, blow bubbles, do whatever it takes to build trust,” said Joanne, who is a phlebotomist at SickKids. “Often it isn’t the blood draw that is the hardest part. It is easing the fears of the children and their parents before the blood draw even takes place.”
For both Andrea and Joanne, SickKids has been their second home for over 20 years.
“The SickKids blood clinic was the first job for both Joanne and I,” said Andrea. “We both arrived over 20 years ago at the beginning of our careers and we haven’t wanted to leave.”
There are many reasons why they continue to stay. They love children. They love the challenging and fast-paced nature of the role. But most importantly, they feel like they are part of a family.
“Seeing a child walk in here afraid and walk out with a smile on their face.”
“The hospital is a home away from home for many families so we become a part of an extended family for many patients,” said Joanne. “After seeing a child a few times, they start to feel at home when they are visiting the clinic.”
“It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing that I enjoy,” said Andrea. “I just love everything about working here. It is my second family. I spend more time here than I do at home.”
Kim, who took on the supervision of the clinic three years ago, agrees with Joanne and Andrea.
“The blood clinic team has over 225 years of experience at SickKids. This clinic has staying power and I think part of it is because we are like family.”
Recently, the blood clinic team was honoured for their passion and dedication to families through the SMILE program. The SMILE program provides SickKids families and staff with the opportunity to recognize and thank staff members through a donation to SickKids. The honoured staff members receive a SMILE pin along with a personalized note as to why they were recognized.
“Receiving a SMILE was lovely because it is such a sincere form of appreciation,” said Kim. “It makes you feel like you are doing something important and working somewhere important. Plus, to have our whole team recognized was really touching because it isn’t often that the blood clinic gets acknowledged. The recognition helps to validate what we do every day.”
Not only are they making a difference at SickKids, they are sharing their knowledge and training others outside of the hospital walls as well. In 2013, Kim had the opportunity to travel to Qatar along with members of the Child Life team to share their expertise on blood work.
The blood clinic is proud of the work they do and the impact they have around the hospital. The blood clinic is often the start of treatment for many children at SickKids as their blood work helps to inform doctors of diagnoses and treatments. Blood is also an important part of the research that takes place at SickKids. The team also prides themselves on the fact that families will travel from all over to specifically be treated at the SickKids blood clinic because it is so well known for the child and family care they provide.
When asked what the most rewarding part of their job at SickKids is, Kim sits and thinks for a minute before stating “Seeing a child walk in here afraid and walk out with a smile on their face.”
If the blood clinic team, or any other team or staff member at SickKids, has brought positivity, comfort or brightness to your day, say thanks by honouring them with a SMILE. A donation through the SMILE program supports the highest priority needs of the hospital as well as the Staff Continuing Professional Development Fund, which provides full and part-time staff at SickKids with opportunities to advance skills, reach new milestones in their careers and increase their knowledge and expertise. SMILEs make a difference, so please consider giving one today.
