Dr. Sara Hennessy, Assistant Professor of Surgery and Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, received the 2018 Golden Pager Award for her dedicated efforts to empower intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.

“It is an absolute honor and surprise to be recognized by my colleagues in the Surgical ICU with the Golden Pager Award. I see the award as a reflection of all the hard work of everyone I work with,” Dr. Hennessy said. “I work with some of the most amazing people who are truly devoted to providing the highest level of safe and quality care to patients with an extraordinary level of compassion.”

Since 2010, the annual Golden Pager Award has honored physicians who demonstrate excellence in care, professionalism, collaboration, and respect for the contributions of nursing colleagues. Recipients are selected by the University Hospitals nursing staff.

Dr. Hennessy, an expert in minimally invasive general surgery and bariatric surgery, implemented the Nursing Quality Checklist to improve outcomes for all ICU patients. The checklist project allows the nurses to take ownership of the factors they can influence. She is also influential in shifting the paradigm of certain practices.

“Nurses are empowered to ask for line removals during rounds, as they are given the support and guidance to do so. In turn, they are engaged and have improved their practice by recognizing the individual needs of the patient,” said one of Dr. Hennessy’s nominators.

Dr. Hennessy is hailed for endorsing resources suggested by the SICU team and building a bridge between physicians and nurses to provide better communication, service, and education. Her actions to improve overall patient care aid in “building the confidence and skills of the nursing team, creating a supportive environment to develop staff, and improving the care provided to patients,” said a nominator.

“The nurse-physician relationship is one of true teamwork,” said Susan Hernandez, Associate Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive for the UT Southwestern Health System. “For physicians to recognize our nurses as partners is a tremendous part of providing excellent patient care and we thank them for that.”