When a Norton Healthcare nurse had surgery on her wrist, an employee benefit helped with driving her and her dad

A Norton Healthcare employee benefit meant Sheila Geiger, R.N., didn’t have to miss seeing her dad while she recovered from surgery. No driving? No problem.

Author: Jacob Gary

Published: January 30, 2025

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Sheila Geiger, R.N., a relief charge nurse on the mother/baby unit at Norton Hospital, hadn’t heard of Papa until she was working her night shift last August. One of her team members brought up the Papa program to Sheila because she thought Sheila could benefit from it.

Available to all Norton Healthcare employees, Papa is an innovative service connecting older adults and families with compassionate Papa Pals for companionship, assistance and peace of mind.

“She was worried about my carpal tunnel surgery, and how I was going to get around,” Sheila said. “You can’t exactly drive as well.”

Sheila elected to use the benefit after her wrist surgery. She could not drive so she had someone from Papa take her and her father, Merl, to doctor appointments. Sheila’s husband, Tom, was really busy at work and could not take time off.

“Merl, my dad, is 89 but very independent. At first, he and my husband, Tom, had some pushback to the idea of using Papa. Tom had concerns with having a stranger drive me, and my dad did not want the help of a stranger,” Sheila said. “I assured them it was through Norton Healthcare, and that it was safe. They eventually relented, and it turned out to be a huge benefit to us as a family.”

According to Sheila, the Papa Pals who showed up to help them were excellent. Every Papa Pal undergoes vigorous background checks and motor vehicle reports. For Sheila, they were on for scheduled pick-ups, accommodating and even early for the appointment. Everything was done in less than two hours, with no hassle.

Hans Buhts, a manager in the benefits department at Norton Healthcare, said the partnership was designed to benefit all employees.

“There has been a focus on companionship and providing assistance to our employees who may need help outside of work,” Hans said. “It is difficult to manage work when you have to go home and be spread thin with your time by having to look out for others. We wanted to help those employees.”

According to Sheila, Tom and Merl were very grateful for their Papa Pal experience. Merl was happy he did not have to reschedule his appointment, and Tom was very relieved it all worked out so that he did not miss any time at work.

“I have already told so many people about this. I know another nurse in my unit who could benefit from it because she has a hurt knee,” Sheila said. “It is easy to sign up for. I am not tech savvy; if I can do it, anyone can! We have so many excellent benefits at Norton Healthcare — it is a perk of the job and a reason why I love working here.”

By the end of 2024, Sheila had used all 10 free hours available under the employee benefit. And she is looking to use more in the future to visit Merl at his nursing home.

“When we look for benefits to be included in our benefits package, we look for value that can be used our employees to their best benefit,” Hans said. “Sheila already used all of her free hours; she was clearly invested in this new benefit and really enjoyed it. I’m glad she took a chance and gained a positive experience from it.”

About Papa

Whether it is for grocery shopping, watching your kids, a ride to a doctor’s appointment or assisting with nonmedical care, the Papa program extends a helping hand — when, where and how you need it most.

This benefit is available to all employees as part of our commitment to your well-being and work-life balance. All employees can use up to 10 hours of service, at no cost to you. Here’s how to get started:

  • Visit Papa.com to verify your eligibility and create an account.
  • Select who will be using your Papa benefits — you or your loved one(s) — along with the primary ZIP code where you would like assistance.
  • Download the Papa Care app from the Apple or Google app stores and follow the steps to schedule your next visit.

If you are interested in using Papa, click here to learn more about the program and how to take advantage of it.