Who:
Lindsey Hofstrand, advanced practice provider, WellSpan Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

What:
At WellSpan, moments of gratitude often come from the simplest and most meaningful acts of human connection.

Recently, a patient arrived at WellSpan Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine in York with a surprise for Lindsey. Front office team members shared that the patient was waiting in the lobby with something he wanted to personally deliver. When Lindsey stepped out to greet him, she was met with an unexpected and deeply moving gesture: a large, handcrafted wooden nameplate, carefully carved, stained and painted by the patient himself.

“I was honestly shocked,” Lindsey said. “The amount of time and care he put into it meant so much. It made me realize that I had left a positive impact during a stressful moment for him.”

The patient, a woodworker in his spare time, created the piece as a thank you for the care Lindsey provided during a recent evaluation – a situation that understandably brought fear and hesitation.

“I know how nerve racking these visits can be,” Lindsey shared. “I try to approach them with calmness, empathy and reassurance, so patients feel supported even when there’s uncertainty.”

Working in health care, gifts are never expected. What Lindsey hoped for most was that her patient felt heard, safe and cared for. This gesture – thoughtful, personal and handmade – affirmed that those intentions had been felt.

Words to live by:
“I can only hope I’m making a difference and truly helping my patients,” she said. “When your kindness is noticed, it reminds you why this work matters.”

Lindsey focuses on helping patients feel heard by validating their experiences, encouraging them to share their concerns and collaborating on a clear plan of care.

“My goal is for patients to leave their appointment feeling listened to and reassured,” she said.

Across WellSpan, care teams meet patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. While clinical expertise is essential, what patients often remember most are the human moments – a reassuring conversation, an extra minute spent answering a question or the sense that someone truly listened.

Sometimes, that impact is expressed through a handwritten note or a kind word.

And sometimes, it shows up as a handcrafted gift – a tangible reminder that caring, human-centered moments truly matter.