November 2009 - Tarun K. Kapoor, MD, FHM, regional medical officer for Clinical Colleagues, Inc. and associate medical director of Virtua Memorial's hospitalist group, has been awarded the Institute for Nursing 2009 APPLE Award (Acknowledging Physician Partners - Liaison Excellence).
This award recognizes physicians who are supportive of nurses and patient advocacy, the foundation of nursing, and who view the doctor-nurse relationship as one of respect, collaboration and mutual support.
Dr. Kapoor was nominated by nurses at Memorial who think that Dr. Kapoor exemplifies the ideal physician-nurse relationship. "Dr. Kapoor fosters an atmosphere of collaboration, caring and support for both the nursing staff and his patient. These positive interactions allow for free exchange of information and lead to improved patient outcomes," they say in their nomination letter.
"Sturdy nurse-physician relationships lead to better patient outcomes," says Paul Minnick, vice president of patient care at Virtua Memorial. "Physicians like Dr. Kapoor, who support their health care team, are a vital part of Virtua."
Dr. Kapoor is a known advocate for education, which perhaps comes from his experience as an assistant clinical instructor at George Washington University Medical Center. He takes the time to provide bed-side education, creates visuals to help explain complex cases, and welcomes feedback on patient care to improve outcomes.
But it doesn't stop with his medical team. Dr. Kapoor is also known for providing detailed discharge instructions to his patients. He takes the time to answer their questions and help ease the pain of families who may be facing difficult decisions.
Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Kapoor earned his medical degree from UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He completed his internship and residency at George Washington University. Dr. Kapoor is the associate medical director of Virtua Memorial's hospitalist group, which consists of 15 physicians who provide in-house patient care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
About the Institute for Nursing
The Institute for Nursing was founded in 1988 as the charitable affiliate of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA). The mission of The Institute for Nursing is to advance the profession of nursing and the health of our communities through scholarship, research, and education. This mission stems from the belief that registered nurses have an obligation to maintain their practice ability and to continually develop their many professional roles to honor their stewardship to the public.
