Seaford, DE – TidalHealth is pleased to announce that speech-language pathologist (SLP) Megan Conroy is the May 2024 recipient of the Marc McDonald Award.
Conroy was recognized for her creative problem-solving skills and the high-quality care she provided to a long-term patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at TidalHealth Nanticoke:
“Megan went above and beyond for a Spanish-speaking ICU patient who was unable to speak due to being mechanically ventilated and could not interact with his hands due to physical limitations.
Megan met this challenge head-on. After noticing that the patient would nod his head to answer questions and use his eyes to track around the room, Megan used her experience with TidalHealth’s ALS Clinic to develop a customized face shield that allows the patient to communicate using his eye gaze.
This breakthrough has been a game changer for the patient and his ability to express his needs. The ICU team has been using the language line for interpretation and this new tool gives the patient more autonomy and allows him to be more actively involved in his care plan.”
The Marc McDonald Award is given in recognition and memory of Marc McDonald, an outstanding lead physical therapist at TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford, Del. He passed unexpectedly in 2022, but not before leaving a legacy of exceptional patient care.
This award recognizes members of TidalHealth’s Physical Medical & Rehabilitation team who exhibit the same characteristics of professionalism, compassion, and commitment to a patient’s overall well-being. Nominations are accepted from the fields of physical, occupational and speech therapy.
