The Bethesda Hospital Foundation announced Monday the death of Bethesda Memorial Hospital’s longtime donors, Lucienne Driskill.
“If there was ever someone fit to be called Mrs. Bethesda, she was it,” said Kristin Calder, spokeswoman of the hospital’s foundation.
Mrs. Driskill, who died Sunday, May 17 at the age of 83, was the largest contributor to Bethesda Memorial Hospital and responsible for the creation of two Centers of Excellence.
Mrs. Driskill’s support established the Walter S. and Lucienne Driskill Center for Caring Excellence. The center provides the resources to commit every healthcare provider who cares for patients to be trained to understand and demonstrate the art of caring when providing clinical support.
The Driskill Center was dedicated at a luncheon in September 2004. Calder said Mrs. Driskill donated more than $6 million to make that center a reality.
The center has a caring coach, which assists all staff on how to treat patients correctly.
The Driskill Center is a nationally-renowned model that was featured at the 2006 Annual Picker Institute, Inc. International Symposium, recognizing world leaders in the area of scientific measurement and improvement of the patient’s experience, and the promotion of patient-centered care.
Mrs. Driskill also gave another significant contribution of more than $2 million to establish the Driskill Endovascular Center providing a state-of-the-art facility for Bethesda to treat patients with vascular disease.
Calder, in fact, said a vascular problem was one of Driskill’s ailments at the time of her death.
Mrs. Driskill, a Florida resident since 1965, was recognized as the 2005 Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Palm Beach chapter.
Kay Harvey, Bethesda Hospital Foundation executive director, said Mrs. Driskill touched the lives of many members of the Bethesda team, and through her personal compassion, showed new and enduring ways to treat patients.
Harvey said Mrs. Driskill would be missed by anyone who had the honor of working with her.
Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.