Sparrow honors respiratory therapists with PHIL Awards

Published: June 15, 2020

Lansing, MI – Sparrow Health System has recognized respiratory therapists from Sparrow Hospital in Lansing and Sparrow Carson Hospital as recipients of 2020 PHIL Awards honoring outstanding care for patients with respiratory illnesses.

Erica Tyler of Sparrow Hospital and Vicky Yahr of Sparrow Carson were selected based on nominations from colleagues, patients or patient family members. All respiratory therapists at Sparrow Health System were eligible for nominations.

Tyler was nominated by the Granger Pediatrics Emergency Department for the exceptional care she provides to her patients every day. She is known for always being available and speaking up to make sure her patients get the right care at the right time.

She has worked at Sparrow for 12 years and has been a respiratory therapist since 2009.

During a separate event at Sparrow Carson, Yahr was surprised with the award and presented with a

plaque, an appreciation sculpture, flowers, and a bag of Sparrow swag.

Yahr has worked for 26 years as a respiratory therapist in the Sparrow Carson Cardiology Department. She was nominated by a patient’s family member who said “Vicky’s clinical care was outstanding; she had a genuine presence that calmed my family each time she entered. Vicky proved to be our patient angel/advocate from day one.”

The PHIL Award was created in 2006, in honor of Philip C. Lamka, who passed away from Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). It is a signature program of The FACES Foundation's® and the only nationally recognized hospital-based recognition program dedicated to honoring outstanding respiratory therapists as unsung heroes who provide exemplary care and treatment for patients with respiratory illness.
 

PHL Award Winners Vicky Yahr and Erica TylerPHOTO CAPTION
LEFT: Sparrow Carson PHIL Award winner Vicky Yahr (second from left), is honored by Sparrow Carson President Mark Brisboe (left), Lori Grant, director of Ancillary Services, and Karen Barker, Cardiopulmonary supervisor.

RIGHT:Sparrow Hospital Respiratory Therapist Erica Tyler displays her PHIL Award for outstanding respiratory care.
 

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Sparrow, a member of the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network, is mid-Michigan’s premier healthcare organization that includes hospitals in Lansing, Charlotte, St. Johns, Ionia and Carson City as well as Physicians Health Plan, the Sparrow Medical Group and the Michigan Athletic Club. Sparrow is affiliated with Michigan Medicine through the Sparrow Children’s Center and with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 Caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and Patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.