Newsworthy

How Teamwork Turned a Call into a Lifesaving Moment

At Stormont Vail Health, our Transitional Care Management team makes follow-up calls to every discharged patient. These calls support recovery—but one recent call became a life-saving moment thanks to the incredible teamwork of Shawnna Beck (Care Manager) and Janet Spantgos, registered nurses with Care Transformation.

When a patient expressed suicidal ideation during a routine follow-up, RN Shawnna remained calm and compassionate, guiding the patient through breathing techniques while staying on the line. At the same time, she connected with RN Janet via Webex, who quickly contacted emergency services. RN Shawnna relayed critical information to Janet for the dispatcher, and together, they ensured the patient received immediate care from a Crisis Intervention Team.

Their collaboration and composure exemplify our values:

Together, we own patient safety and the patient experience.

We treat every patient, visitor, and team member with compassion and dignity.

Please join us in celebrating RNs Shawnna and Janet—our July 2025 Persons of the Moment—for their extraordinary care and teamwork.

Shawna & Janet’s Story

Submitted by Yvonne Hartner

Each patient discharged from Stormont Vail Health receives a phone call from Transitional Care Management. While completing this call, Shawnna spoke with a patient who was expressing suicidal ideation.

Shawnna worked very hard to keep the patient calm, helping them with breathing techniques. It was definitely an emergency situation. Shawnna stayed on the phone with the patient and communicated via Webex with Transitional Care Management RN Janet Spantgos to contact the authorities.

Shawnna could answer any questions the dispatcher had for Janet through Webex. She remained on the phone with the patient until the police arrived with CIT and transported the patient to the hospital.

Shawnna’s calm and quick thinking, along with her collaboration with teammate Janet, exemplify our values: “Together, we own patient safety and the patient experience” and “Together, we treat every patient, visitor, and team member with compassion and dignity.”