This Hospital Week, we’re celebrating every team member of CoxHealth — from our dedicated clinical teams like doctors, nurses and medical assistants to the essential behind-the-scenes departments like Environmental Services, Public Safety, and many more. Meet Karen Haskins, a Registered Nurse at Cox Monett Hospital: Registered nurse Karen Haskins may not have started her career in nursing, but she has always had a passion for making a difference in people's lives. After spending several years in the corporate world, she bravely followed her heart into health care. Fast forward two decades, and Karen has carved out a special niche for herself, supporting patients in a unique way that often happens behind the scenes. These days, she works in the Ambulatory Procedure Center (APC), where her primary focus is preparation. She makes sure everything is ready to go for patients, whether it’s their orders, medications, or insurance authorizations, before their procedures. Even though her work is meticulous, Karen sees it as a vital form of patient care that helps ease stress and prevent delays for both patients and their families. “I may not be at the bedside anymore,” Karen explains, “but I still care for people. I just do it in a different way now.” In addition to her role in APC, she also plays an integral part in education, helping to guide new employees through orientation and into their new roles. For Karen, Cox Monett feels like more than just a workplace; it feels like family. “There’s something special about this place,” she says with a smile. “We genuinely care about one another. My coworkers are my friends, and that really makes a difference.” With 20 years in nursing under her belt, Karen has some heartfelt wisdom to share. Her advice? “Slow down. Take a moment to see the good in people every day. Just be the reason someone smiles.” (fb)

Every one of us has a “why” behind our service — and this week you’ll get to hear a few of those stories, in our colleagues' own words! Meet Haley Bluto, Time Critical Diagnosis Coordinator at Cox Medical Center Branson: "I’m a nurse for my patients, plain and simple. Every person deserves to feel genuinely cared for, and that belief drives me every single day. I choose to work at CoxHealth because I’ve seen the compassion and excellence our teams bring to every patient who walks through our doors. As both a patient and the mother of a patient, I’ve experienced nearly every corner of our health care system — and I’ve witnessed the heart our people bring to each bedside. That’s why I’m proud to be part of this team." (fb)