Last month, Pennsy said a fond farewell to Debra Runyan, MT(ASCP), CIC, who retired after 34 exceptional years of service.
Runyan began her PAH journey as a microbiology technician in 1986, later utilizing her unique skill set to reduce and eliminate hospital-acquired infections as an infection prevention specialist. She was named director of Infection Prevention in 2008 and led the hospital to decrease infections by as much as 30 percent each year, improving patient outcomes and reducing costs. Her unwavering determination to promoting best practices related to hand hygiene, personal protective equipment usage, and exposure management proved invaluable and undoubtedly informed Pennsy’s strategic response to COVID-19.
While saying goodbye to such a valuable member of the PAH community would typically include a party with plenty of cake and hugs, the pandemic forced Runyan’s colleagues to get creative — a challenge they certainly didn’t back down from! On May 1, a surprise retirement parade drove past her New Jersey home honking horns, ringing cowbells, holding handmade signs, shouting congratulations, and leaving gifts from a socially acceptable distance — including a crystal vase commemorating her longstanding commitment to quality and patient safety from Dan Feinberg, MD, chief medical officer, and the Performance Improvement Team.
“It has been my pleasure to work with Deb over the past 7 years. While she’ll be missed by all of us, I know that she’ll wholeheartedly embrace all of the new opportunities retirement brings,” said Deborah Christopher, MSN, RN, CPHQ, clinical director for Quality and Patient Safety and organizer of the parade. “Her hard work and diligence have greatly benefited our hospital, and I know our staff will strive to follow her stellar example.”