DeTar Healthcare System Celebrates National Patient Experience Week, Highlighting the People Behind Exceptional Care

4/24/2026

Whether arriving for a routine appointment, visiting a loved one or facing a medical emergency, every interaction matters at DeTar Healthcare System. During National Patient Experience Week, DeTar is proud to recognize the physicians, nurses, staff and volunteers who work each day to ensure every person feels valued, heard and cared for.

Observed annually across the country, Patient Experience Week is dedicated to recognizing the importance of delivering not just quality clinical care, but also compassionate, personalized experiences that support healing. It highlights the human side of healthcare — the conversations, empathy and moments that leave a lasting impact on patients and their families.

“At DeTar, we believe healthcare is more than treating a condition — it’s about how we make people feel during some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives,” Brett Maxfield, CEO of DeTar Healthcare System, said. “When you walk through our doors, we want every interaction to leave you feeling respected, supported and genuinely cared for.”

That commitment is rooted in DeTar’s vision: to make the healthcare experience exceptional for our patients, our communities, and each other. It is brought to life through intentional actions across the organization, including leader rounding, active listening, and a shared commitment to compassionate care.

“Patient experience isn’t owned by one department—it’s shaped by every single touchpoint a patient and their family encounter. Every role in our organization contributes to that experience,” Morgan Petrash, RN, BSN, TICU director and patient experience champion at DeTar, said.

From the moment a patient arrives, the “DeTar Difference” is evident. Nurses offer comfort and reassurance during difficult moments, physicians take time to listen and explain, and teams across the hospital work together to ensure each patient’s needs are met. Environmental services staff create clean, welcoming spaces, while lab, imaging and clinical teams collaborate to deliver safe, high-quality care. Each interaction reflects a culture of accountability, teamwork and a constant drive to improve the patient experience.

“Patient experience is about creating trust,” Petrash said. “It’s about meeting each patient where they are, listening to their needs and responding with empathy and attentiveness. Oftentimes the small moments carry the most weight. It can be as simple as knocking before entering a room, sitting at eye level, using a patient’s preferred name or explaining a delay instead of leaving someone wondering.”

Those everyday actions are paired with moments that go above and beyond — a nurse staying a few extra minutes to comfort a patient before a procedure, a dietary team member tracking down a favorite food, or a staff member taking time to reassure a patient’s family.

“Clinical care is expected—but experience is about how that care is delivered,” Petrash said. “Patients are often scared, vulnerable, and may not fully understand what’s happening. They remember how they were treated emotionally just as much as physically.”

This focus on experience doesn’t just benefit patients — it strengthens the entire care environment. A culture centered on compassion and connection leads to stronger teamwork, improved communication, higher staff morale and fewer conflicts.

“At DeTar, our commitment to a positive patient experience is woven into everything we do,” Heidi Wolf, MSN, R.N., chief nursing officer, said. “It’s about building meaningful relationships and creating a sense of trust with every person who walks through our doors. That’s what drives us.”

At its core, a positive patient experience is built on consistency and compassion — respect for each individual, clear and honest communication, responsiveness to needs, empathy for emotions, seamless coordination and a strong sense of safety and trust.

“It’s when a patient can say, ‘They didn’t just treat my condition—they cared about me as a person,’” Petrash said.

Patient Experience Week also aligns with the spirit of National Hospital Week, which celebrates the theme “Healing Happens Here.” At DeTar, that message is more than a theme — it’s a daily reality shaped by the dedication of caregivers across the organization.

“Healing is more than medicine,” Maxfield said. “It’s compassion, teamwork, innovation and trust. It’s the nurse offering comfort during a difficult moment, the physician making critical decisions and the staff member ensuring a safe and welcoming environment. That’s what makes a difference.”

Throughout the week, DeTar is celebrating team members with activities and recognition events, from breakfast tacos to themed photo opportunities and prizes — all designed to honor the individuals who bring compassion and excellence to every shift.

“Whether it’s a warm smile, a carefully explained procedure or a moment of reassurance — every experience matters,” Petrash said. “At DeTar Healthcare System, every experience is an opportunity to heal.”

DeTar Healthcare System invites the community to join in recognizing the healthcare professionals who make exceptional patient experiences possible every day — because at DeTar, healing truly happens here.

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