LVMC Lactation Consultant Honored with BEE Award for Exceptional Effort

Congratulations to Lactation Consultant Kayla Dunavan, BS, IBCLC, on being recognized as a “BEE” award recipient for her perseverance in helping the family of an ill newborn.

The BEE awards recognize Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Comprehensive Care Center or Lompoc Health staff for “Being Exceptional Everyday.” The award recognizes and honors the exceptional skills and daily compassion given to patients by non-Registered Nursing staff.

Kayla, who has worked at LVMC since 2020, was nominated by Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse Anahi Fontanos.

The BEE Award honors patient care by non-Registered Nursing staff who assist a nurse or a patient and his or her family by delivering excellent patient care. The non-nursing staff can include registration staff, patient financial services, Environmental Services, Information Services, Health Information Management, Dietary and more.

During the surprise award ceremony on Friday, Kayla was presented with flowers, a sculpture and a Bee badge pin. She signed a large banner to be placed in the Labor and Delivery department, recognizing her achievement.

Anahi read the nomination she submitted for Kayla, speaking about Kayla’s work with a family whose 16-day-old baby presented with an alarming 17 percent body weight loss.

Kayla interacted with the parents, who had delivered the baby at another hospital and had heard their concerns dismissed by their pediatrician and emergency room personnel elsewhere.

“Kayla took it upon herself and used every resource available to ensure the family received the necessary care to save the baby’s life,” the nomination stated.

In the process, she consulted with a Registered Nurse in LVMC’s Labor and Delivery unit, as well as the pediatrician on call at the hospital and others to ensure the patient was admitted to LVMC and assessed.

“The parents happily reported that their baby was admitted that same day and will be kept there for a few days to assess feeding, closely monitor weight gain and investigate the underlying health issue causing this significant weight loss,” Anahi said in her nomination.

Without the support and advocacy provided by Kayla, the baby could have had a detrimental outcome, the nomination noted.
“So many health care providers dismissed the concerns of the parents during the course of the baby’s care, but Kayla ensure the health and safety of the baby through her perseverance, compassion and dedication to her patients,” Anahi said.

Kayla became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, or IBCLC, in 2019. She is a member of the Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition and conducts lactation services for LVMC.

“I was very surprised,” by the award, Kayla said Friday. The baby, born late last year, is now doing well, she said.

The BEE follows the PETALS principle, which stands for:

P: Shows Passion/Compassion in the care they provide every day

E: Establishes a special connection using kindness, sincerity and the emotional support to patients and families

T: Teamwork

A: Always creates the best experience

L: Love for their job as demonstrated in the care they provide

S: Shows respect

Staff may be nominated for a BEE award by filling out this form: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/Jarw9Eie0e Submissions may also be made by emailing beeaward@lompocvmc.com.