Ernest Colburn
Patient care supervisor
Wheaton Franciscan – St. Joseph Campus
Ernest Colburn, patient care supervisor, is responsible for transferring patients at Wheaton Franciscan – St. Joseph Hospital to the proper places. He is a nursing resource to all floors and regularly helps place IVs, calm patients, provide information, and comfort patient family members.
To his colleagues at the hospital though, Colburn is so much more. Mary Jo Kohout, vice president of patient care services at Wheaton Franciscan – St. Joseph Campus, nominated Colburn for this award.
“I have worked with Ernest Colburn for six years, and I am touched by his compassion and commitment,” Kohout said. “Coordinating patients requires teamwork, communication, creative thinking and flexibility; he possesses all these characteristics.”
He connects on a personal level with patients and their families. They comment frequently on his compassion and calming influence, Kohout said.
Colburn, also a minister, enjoys being able to pray with and comfort patients and their families.
When several African American patients passed away after being admitted to the emergency department suffering from a stroke or stroke complications, Colburn was compelled to educate the community. He organized the Unity in Community Health Fair. The first event was held at the Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club in September 2012. In a short six weeks, Colburn secured sponsorships from the Boys & Girls Club, Sherman Park Association, US Bank, Milwaukee Fire Department and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Wheaton physicians educated attendees on stroke and cardiovascular disease and met one-on-one with attendees to answer health questions, nineteen other Wheaton employees volunteered their time for screenings. Approximately 125 people took advantage of the free screenings;.Colburn is planning an even bigger fair next year.
“I don’t feel like I did anything special,” Colburn said. “This has been really humbling for me, but I just did what was supposed to be done. I just want to help people.”
CLICK HERE to view the entire list of 2012 Healthcare Heroes
