The patient experience is shaped in every interaction, not just with clinical care. Kaziah Riston, housekeeper with Cincinnati Children’s EVS team, proves that as she makes her daily rounds. Earlier this year, she was given a glowing note from a family that saw her kindness as an action of going above and beyond, which led to her receiving accolades from the hospital as well as a meeting with the president of the hospital.
Speaking with Kaziah, you will find that she is soft-spoken and even describes herself as a shy person. But she says when she arrives at her unit, she transforms.
“When I walk into the room, many times it feels like family. Talking to them makes me feel super happy about myself. I realize the more I talk to them, the more I can be grateful. It shows that my work doesn’t go unnoticed,” said Kaziah.
This year, she received kind words from a family whose baby was in the ICU. They said that Kaziah went above and beyond to help them feel seen and cared for. They called her “amazing” and said that her professionalism and kindness was truly a blessing in such a difficult moment. They wanted to make sure that the hospital knew that she deserved recognition.
Kaziah spoke about the recognition and how it made her feel loved.
“People really do love me. Hearing from the family made me feel like a superstar and that I’m doing something very positive. I can do anything that I put my mind to. I can really do it.”
This note found its way to the Cincinnati Children’s leadership team. Kaziah was chosen for short video and a photo shoot for their social media pages. She even got the opportunity to dine with the President and CEO, Steve Davis.
She admitted that she was nervous about the meeting but they had a chance to talk about her career and passions, including her desire to become a clinician.
“I wanted to be a pediatrician since I was little. I always enjoyed being with kids. I have 10 nieces and nephews,” said Kaziah.
Kaziah has been with the EVS team for 3 years. Her supervisor, Operations Manager Brady Jackson, said that this recognition is her time to shine and she’s been a welcome addition to the team.
“Kaziah is someone I can always rely on. She may be a little shy at first, but once she gets on the floor, she completely transforms. Nominating her for something like this is like nominating the whole team. EVS staff are always there, making a difference, even if they don’t always get the recognition.”
Brady said that he manages a great group of young men and women, and Kaziah isn’t the only shining star, but it’s her time to shine this time.
“We do have some other ‘Kaziah’s’ that help us to blend into the hospital and know what’s important,” he said.
Crothall Healthcare is extremely proud of Kaziah and all of the team members who do so much for our patients every day.
