Ashley Valentine, PA-C, in plastic and reconstructive surgery, warmly greets her patient family.
In September, Akron Children’s joins healthcare organizations across the country in celebrating the work of advanced practice providers. On Sept. 26, the annual Advanced Practice Provider meeting and awards celebration will take place at 6 p.m. in the Considine Auditorium.
There are more than 450 advanced practice providers at Akron Children’s. Their dedication is truly appreciated through the words shared by those patient families they have treated. The six spotlights below share patient feedback from this year.
Kristiana Brown, PA-C (Austintown ACP, Quick Care)
“Kristiana Brown was incredibly thorough during our sick visit. I truly appreciated her attentiveness, careful examination and accurate diagnosis of my son’s condition. Her pleasant demeanor created a calming atmosphere, helping my son feel at ease during his examination. It was truly refreshing to receive such exceptional service that day.”
Q. What do you enjoy about being a Quick Care Provider?
A. (Brown) It feels good to be able to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions on the spot and know that you helped the family avoid the stress of an unnecessary emergency room visit or the wait to get in with their primary care physician.
Q. How do you navigate delivering excellent care while seeing anxious patients?
A. (Brown) “It is important when seeing patients with anxiety to create a setting in which they feel safe, heard and without judgement. I personally have dealt with anxiety since I was a child and know one of the biggest barriers to getting care was allowing myself to be vulnerable to someone I just met. Taking time to find a connection or build rapport can help patients know they are not fighting this alone and reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health concerns. I try my best to listen first, put myself in their shoes and make sure they know that their feelings are valid.
Q. What makes the best part of your workday?
A. (Brown)The patients! I love that most days involve babies and kids that I can be silly with them and make the medical environment a little less intimidating.
Ashley Valentine, PA-C (Plastic and reconstructive surgery)
“Ashley Valentine was knowledgeable, courteous and carefully explained every detail. This relieved our fears and made my child comfortable. I would highly recommend Ashley for any procedure.”
Q. What drew you to serve as a physician assistant in plastic and reconstructive surgery?
A. (Valentine) As a physician assistant (PA), I can do a little bit of everything within our team. From surgery, running outpatient clinics, performing office procedures, or completing consultations all throughout the hospital, it is rare to have a dull day! I joined the plastics and reconstructive surgery department after working in surgery. As the needs of my family at home began to change, the opportunity with this position was available. Little did I know that it would be a greatly rewarding experience to get to work with this team and our patient population.
From a surgical view, we do very minor procedures to the most extremely complicated reconstruction cases. We have longevity with many of our kids given their diagnosis and need for chronic care. You get to form relationships with these families over the years which is special.
Q. Share a time that you consulted with a patient who had a challenging medical situation. What tips do you have for other APPs in similar situations?
A. (Valentine) I have found working with children that honest and clear expectations go a long way, especially in a challenging or stressful situation. They tend to think we are going to tell them something won’t hurt when it most likely might be painful. This is a source of their fear and anxiety. I recommend taking the time to explain each step of what is going on and allow the patient to ask questions so that I may give honest answers. When I do a procedure, I tell them if I am going to touch them with a cotton ball or stick them with a needle, so they know what is coming. They will trust you and feel more comfortable even when they must go through something tough.
Q. What piece of advice did someone give you that resonates with you today?
A. (Valentine) I love this quote by Herbert Butterfield: “those people work more wisely who seek to achieve good in their own small corner of the world than those who are forever thinking that life is in vain, unless one can do big things.”
I aim to make this my goal, improve my own small corner a little bit every day. Be kind, be genuine, and take care of each other. If we all work on our own small corner, it makes a big impact!
Don Croston, MSN, APRN – CNS (Behavioral Health)
“Our family lives over an hour away from Akron. While there are many behavioral health options along our way, there is no way our family would ever find someone we trust with our child’s well-being as much as Don Croston. Our children would not be who they are today without the guidance and support of Don.”
Q. What drew you to the field of psychology and behavioral health?
A. (Croston) My interest came from personal experiences and having a desire to help those that struggled with mental illness. As I was in nursing school, the message relayed was to get a job within a medical unit or your skillset would be lost. I ended up doing a volunteer observation in behavioral health and fell in love with the work being done. I started as a behavioral health tech while pursing my nursing degree. I then completed my certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Q. How do you establish trust with your patients and patient families?
A. (Croston) Building a foundation of trust can be a challenge as you work with both patients and patient families. For both, listening is more than just hearing what the patient and family have to say. Being aware of the tone, body language and emotions helps show that you care, respect, and empathize with them. With my patient and families, I am transparent and utilize appropriate use of self-disclosure to build a working alliance with my patient. Kids, especially adolescents, want to know you are real and understand what they are trying to convey.
Q. What tips do you have to encourage patients from an early age through adolescence?
A. (Croston) Three simple words: stop, think, act. We must utilize skills our entire life that require us to make decision. If we can take a minute to stop and think about how we should handle a situation, most times the outcome of acting can be positive. I stress that medication is a band-aid, but the strength to use coping skills and the ability to make choices is up to the individual which ends up being the most powerful tool.
Katina Kokkinos, APRN – CNP (Allergy & Immunology)
“Katina Kokkinos is top notch! I cannot say enough good things about her. She listened to us and gave the most thorough descriptions of our treatment plan. She was very engaging with my son which helped him feel comfortable. From the time you check in until the time you check out, Katina and the department are amazing.”
Q. What are your tips for customizing care from patient to patient?
A. (Kokkinos) Always listen to their story. While a lot of treatment plans are similar in medicine (specifically in allergy), hearing a patient’s personal experience helps to tailor treatment based off their personal comfort levels. I see cases that range from food and environmental allergies to asthma, eczema, hives, and drug related allergies. I also support patients from pulmonary and gastroenterology. Collaborating with departments helps us achieve successful treatment.
Q. Is there a patient story that resonates with you?
A. (Kokkinos) My favorite patient experience is one where we can disprove food allergies. Being able to eliminate unnecessary anxiety from a parent and patient while expanding their dietary horizons is an awesome feeling. I thoroughly enjoy helping patients get to a point where they no longer need us.
Tamara Murray, MSN, APRN – CNP (Sports Medicine)
“Tamara Murray delivered information in a lighthearted and fun manner. This went a long way to decrease the stress of the situation. My daughter loved meeting Tamara. She felt supported and heard. Each time my daughter has been treated by Tamara, it has been an amazing experience.”
Q. What drew you to the field of Sports Medicine?
A. (Murray) Sports Medicine is the perfect blend of primary care, patient education, and parental concern for their scholar/athlete child(ren). As a parent of former college athletes, I find it to be a place that highlights all my life experiences. Plus, I have the opportunity to work with a stellar team. I couldn’t ask for anything better.
Q. When treating teen/college aged patients, how do you connect with them?
A. (Murray) I connect with each patient and family on a personal level. I enjoy hearing their stories about their injuries and their lives. Truly being present for your patients is very much appreciated and allows me to connect with each one of them.
Q. When treating cases with a lengthy treatment plan, how do you keep your patients motivated to achieve success?
A. (Murray) All my patients are unique. Concussion care is so complex that it tends to lead to discussions that can uncover problems or concerns that may have been longstanding and can be addressed. Our team of multi-disciplinary health care professionals from athletic trainers to specialists ensures a high level of buy in and follow through. Even if our care plans are extended, we can focus on small victories on every level to help keep the patient motivated to see their recovery through to the end.
Joan Paskert, MSN, APRN-CNP (ACP Hudson)
“Our kids get so excited to see Joan! She takes plenty of time and never rushes when talking to me and my children during our appointments. Her responses are clear and confident which makes me feel very comfortable.”
Q. Over the course of your career in pediatrics, what has been the biggest change you have seen when providing primary care?
A. (Paskert) When I first began in primary care pediatrics, we relied on paper charts and dictating. Today we have transitioned to electronic medical records. EMRs provide a more comprehensive and higher quality of care, enhancing continuity of care. I can now access notes from specialists, other primary care providers, urgent care centers, emergency room visits and even non-Akron Children’s facilities.
Q. What has been one of your favorite memories?
A. (Paskert) What I love most about my job is working with children and hearing the adorable things they say. A parent shared with me that their child told everyone in their family that they had a “doctor /NP” in their family. When the mom said, “We don’t have a doctor/NP in our family”, the child replied, “yes, we do, Joan is part of our family.” These heartwarming interactions make my job so enjoyable and incredibly rewarding.
Q. Is there a patient story that resonates with you?
A. (Paskert) A young teen confided in me about feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to approach their parent, fearing they would not understand. I encouraged the teen to discuss their concerns with their parent, and I offered my presence to help guide the conversation. Over many months and years, we worked through these difficult challenges together. Eventually, everyone involved accepted the outcome. The parent later expressed gratitude, acknowledging my role as integral in their lives and the significant help I provided during a difficult time. Stories like these reaffirm why I am passionate about my work, making a positive impact in the lives of families and patients alike.
Thank you to all the advanced practice providers. Enjoy this special message from hospital leadership.
