| Recipient: | Gary Parker, PhD, MS, BSN |
|---|---|
| Job Title: | Manager, Clinical Education/Research |
| Employer: | Mercy Health Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Nominated by: | Jessica Hawkins |
|---|---|
| Title: |
Prevention Program Manager |
| Employer: | Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services |
I am privileged to nominate Mr. Gary Parker, PhD, MS, BSN of Oklahoma's Mercy Health Center for the 2007 Cherokee Inspired Comfort Award. In early 2006, Gary Parker and I did not know each other nor did we expect how a tragic event that year would bring us together and lead us toward where we are today. In spring of 2006, a young, college age woman was brought to the emergency room of Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City with self-inflicted wounds. The physicians and nurses of Mercy worked tirelessly to save her, but despite their efforts, she died from her injuries.
Understandably the staff was deeply touched by this young woman's death as well as the many other young patients who arrived at their hospital every week with self-inflicted injuries and stories of suicidal ideation. The sobering fact is that suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people age 10-24 in the state of Oklahoma, and young Oklahomans age 15-19 have the highest hospitalized attempt rates. Therefore, hospitals such as Mercy Health Center are in a unique position to help prevent suicide deaths and suicide attempts.
As a Registered Nurse, Gary understood what the emergency room nurses experienced fighting for this young woman's life, and as the Manager of Clinical Education and Research, Gary was compelled to learn more about youth suicide and identify a role for Mercy in preventing suicide. After learning about the incident in the emergency room and after discussion among hospital staff to ‘do something' about the problem of youth suicide, Gary Parker sprung into action. He wasted no time contacting the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) after he discovered the agency led the state's youth suicide prevention initiative. Through a conversation with the coordinator of a teen hotline at the agency, our paths crossed. I met with Gary and was instantly impressed with his willingness to take on the issue and to be the gatekeeper we needed to build a strong partnership with the healthcare community.
For several months, Gary researched the issue, attended the state's Youth Suicide Prevention Council, met with suicide prevention experts, and went above and beyond his normal duties to ensure Mercy took an active role in the Oklahoma's youth suicide prevention initiative.
Ultimately, we worked together to develop a youth suicide prevention training for physicians, nurses, and staff. The training concept was based on the fact that most people who attempt suicide or die by suicide display warning signs, and nurses, physicians, and other hospital staff are in a position to recognize warning signs, intervene, and ensure the patient receives the appropriate help. Gary convinced Mercy administrators to adopt the program, and throughout 2006 and 2007 Gary trained more than 500 nurses, physicians, and staff in youth suicide prevention and intervention. He has collected data and presented findings on the training program at the state's Nursing Research Conference and at an international health conference in China. He has been instrumental in influencing one of the state's premier nursing schools to include suicide prevention training in their curriculum, and he regularly advocates for other hospitals in the state to adopt the program. Gary has gone above and beyond his normal duties to ensure his hospital is doing all they can to prevent future tragedies and to create the best possible outcomes for their patients and young Oklahomans across the state.
Due to his leadership, his willingness to take action, and his passionate advocacy for patient health and safety, Oklahoma is making significant strides in the prevention of suicide. His actions exemplify the standards of innovation and exceptional service for this award – Gary Parker is truly deserving of this honor.
