Employees of Excellence

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Rebecca Haefner has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of November. Becky is a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant in the Eye Institute. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since August 2008 and was nominated by a patient. Becky’s nomination read:

"I have had the pleasure of working with Becky for my contact lenses over the last few years. She has always been extraordinarily knowledgeable and proactive. But this summer, Becky showed me how amazing she really was. I brought in something I found online about a different kind of contact lens made for people with my eye condition. Becky not only listened to me, but she took the information to Dr. Krager and they both agreed to try it. Becky spent a lot of time researching the lenses and training on how the lenses should be fitted. Becky didn’t have to do this – after all, I was their only patient who was going to use this lens. Becky hit the ground running and quickly became an expert in this lens. Becky started working with me in May and she has been my rock through this journey. Becky frequently checks on me to make sure everything is okay with the new contacts. She was always available for questions and help when I needed it. And it was always with a smile. I believe that she can put anyone at ease. Becky even gave me a pep talk when it looked like one lens wasn’t going to work. Becky is truly a wonderful person who cares deeply for her patients."

Congratulations to Becky, our Employee of Excellence for November!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Gwen Morse has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of October.  Gwen is a Registered Nurse in the Ambulatory Surgery Center.  She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since September 2008 and was nominated by a co-worker. Gwen’s nomination read:

"Gwen is a pre-operative phone nurse with the ASC.  I feel that she went above and beyond her normal work duties to provide an excellent experience for one of our surgical patients. She had contacted a patient whose surgery had been cancelled at an area hospital due to issues with his implanted device. His surgery was then scheduled at ASC. This patient has a deep brain stimulator implanted to treat Parkinson’s disease.  When Gwen called the patient the day before his surgery, he expressed concern that this surgery might also be cancelled. Gwen collected information from the patient, then contacted the OR coordinator and Anesthesia Department to discuss the patient’s concerns. She and co-worker Diane Young contacted Medtronic and spoke with a tech to receive the necessary information. This information was then given to anesthesiologist Dr. Thompson so proper care could be provided. Gwen also contacted the surgeon’s office to make sure the office staff was aware of the patient’s concerns and needs.  What I appreciated about Gwen was that, even though she had 60 patients to contact that day, she took the time to care for this patient’s concerns. This patient was able to have his procedure without delay."

Congratulations to Gwen, our Employee of Excellence for October!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Cathy Jones has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of September. Cathy is a Medical Assistant 3 in Ophthalmology. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since January 2011 and was nominated by a patient and several co-workers. Cathy’s nominations read:

“Cathy Jones is an employee who consistently goes above and beyond for her patients and co-workers. Her job is to perform tests for the Ophthalmology department. Our patients are always appreciative of her efficiency and compassion. She has a very busy schedule every day, but our patients would never know that. Recently, she showed exceptional care when performing a glaucoma test on a patient. After noticing something that did not appear correct, she immediately notified the doctor. She was right in her thinking and the patient was sent to our retinal specialist with a detached retina. The patient ended up having surgery and could not be more grateful for Cathy's help in the matter. He believes Cathy's attention to detail saved his vision. This is a perfect example of Springfield Clinic's mission of providing the highest quality health care to patients!

The patient also completed a Patient Experience form. He stopped by my office to tell me that Cathy deserves a GOLD STAR. He expressed how grateful he was for her dedication and going the extra mile to get him seen immediately, instead of at his follow-up appointment.

Cathy is always attentive to the patients’ needs and careful not to miss any signs of concern. Cathy works hard to stay on schedule making sure patients do not have to wait for their tests. She is a great example of what an employee should be—patient-focused!”

Congratulations to Cathy, our Employee of Excellence for September!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Eddie Lowe has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of August. Eddie is an RN in TeleNurse. He has been employed at Springfield Clinic since August 2003 and was nominated by a patient and Deborah Kerley. Eddie’s nomination read:

"I received a call yesterday from a woman who had called TeleNurse over the weekend and spoke with Eddie. She stated, "I wanted to thank Eddie.  He saved my life last night.  I was thinking about ending my life.  He was kind and compassionate and stayed on the phone with me until help arrived.  I just wanted him to know I was grateful for his help and today I am getting the help I need."  Eddie has been with TeleNurse since August of 2003. He is loved by his co-workers and is excellent with patients in all situations."

Congratulations to Eddie, our Employee of Excellence for August!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Nancy Smith has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of July. Nancy is a receptionist at the Center for Plastic Surgery. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since October 1988 and was nominated by a patient and several colleagues, including Dr. Beth Bergman. Nancy’s nomination read:

"I have had the pleasure of working with Nancy Smith as my receptionist in Plastic Surgery my entire practice career of 20years. Next year Nancy will have been with Springfield Clinic for 25 years. She is an extremely loyal and hardworking employee. Nancy is also extremely flexible. If the practice needs her to come early, stay late, or help out with anything, she is always the first one to step up to the plate. Her customer service is exemplary! She always jumps up, runs to the door, and helps patients inside when needed. Nancy also, has many times helped room patients in a pinch and offered to get them drinks, to help make their visit comfortable while they may have to wait if I may be running behind. She is incredibly meticulous about her tasks and her job. Very rarely in 20 years of practice, have I seen a mistake with records, referring doctors, family doctors, insurance, or contact information; which is so critical for our practice. She is extremely dedicated to our patients.

Nancy often comes in early, and will open the phone lines for calls as early as 7:30 am so that she can get a jump start on patients who may have had issues or concerns that need to be addressed early in the day or if patients needed to be added to the schedule. We have been short staffed in the office, and although Nancy has wanted to retire or cut back over the years, she is always the first one to step up to the plate to offer to work additional hours, help cover shifts and lunches even though she has a very busy home life as well. On a personal note, she has on, not one, but two one-year long occasions, taken care of her 3 young grandsons on a full time basis, while her son and daughter-in-law were serving our military in Afghanistan. During this time, Nancy still continued to work nearly full time as well. Many times I overhear that she is leaving after a full day of work to help cut lawns or garden for elderly people in her area that are unable to perform their own lawn care.

Nancy is truly, truly an amazing person an amazing worker, and a huge asset to Springfield Clinic. I am proud and honored to have worked with her for over 20 years in my practice."

Congratulations to Nancy, our Employee of Excellence for July!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Anne Germann has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of June. Anne is a Medical Technologist – Section Head in the Laboratory. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since June 1995 and was nominated by Michelle Harden. Anne’s nomination read:

Anne went above and beyond to help me. A patient was recently screened for a research study. The research drug treatment involves a biologic, so per SC protocol a blood test called a histoplasmosis must be performed in order to ensure that is safe for the patient to begin treatment. I called for results at which time Anne had to inform me that Quest had called stating the specimen was lost. Anne greatly apologized and followed through with Quest and their vendor to see if there was any way to resolve the situation/locate the specimen and get the test result ASAP. Unfortunately, there was not. So, Anne then proceeded to contact MMC and their vendor to see how quickly they could get a new specimen collected, shipped, processed, & resulted since time is of the essence for this trial & for patient safety reasons. Anne called me back and asked if I could get the patient back in because she worked out a way for the specimen to be done STAT/Rush so that we could have results in a few days through the other companies. I am incredibly grateful for all of the time and effort that Anne put into this and she probably saved this patient from being kicked off of study. I cannot thank Anne enough. And I know that the patient is incredibly grateful.

Congratulations to Anne, our Employee of Excellence for June!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Rebecca Harris has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of May. Rebecca is an ASC Registered Nurse in Ambulatory Surgery. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since January 2008 and was nominated by a Springfield Clinic employee who was also a patient. Rebecca’s nomination read:

“One of my daughters recently had a procedure done in the ASC, and, during her post-op recovery period, we were amazed by the compassionate care we received from one of the nurses. Rebecca Harris was exceptionally caring--not only to my daughter, but me and my husband as nervous parents, offering beverages, blankets and other amenities to make our stay more comfortable. My youngest daughter has several health problems that cause us to be in many doctors’ offices and we have had several hospital stays, seeing many nurses and doctors. For Rebecca to stand out so positively in my mind and for me to still be thinking about how considerate she was and what great care she took of my daughter speaks volumes. She let my daughter rest as much as possible, then went out of her way to find the one color of popsicle that would satisfy my daughter’s sore throat and cravings simultaneously. Thank you for taking such great care of one of my babies!”

Congratulations to Rebecca, our Employee of Excellence for May!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Michele Kent has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of April. Michele is a Medical Assistant III with Dr. Randag in Internal Medicine. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since July 1997 and was nominated by her manager.

"Michele has been a dedicated, enthusiastic member of Dr. Randag's nursing staff for 15 years. She is a true patient advocate, a crusader for quality, a team player and a go-to person for the department who truly exemplifies the SC Way every day with every patient and internal/external customer. With Dr. Randag's retirement in March, I have heard numerous accolades for Michele and Dr. Randag, and witnessed many tears falling from patients’ eyes. While Dr. Randag's retirement is a huge change, bringing some anxiety to many of his patients, Michele has been a rock, providing support in her understanding, empathetic way. She has reassured patients that, while she knows this change is difficult, any Springfield Clinic primary care provider they select will provide them with excellent care. I recently saw a beautiful card that a patient sent to Michele around Christmastime and the written inscription read ‘Michele, I just want you to know how much you have helped me. I bet a lot of other patients feel the same way. Don't ever change!’ I think that says it all. It's been a blessing to work with you Michele. Thank you and best of luck in your new endeavors with Springfield Clinic.

Congratulations to Michele, our Employee of Excellence for April!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Danielle Landgrebe has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of March. Danielle is an RN at SOGA.

Danielle’s nomination read, “I have a three-year-old, a one-year-old and am currently expecting baby number three. As a stay-at-home mom, I have to take my children with me to all doctor appointments and it is usually a nightmare. When Danielle (a nurse in Dr. Bradley's office) saw that I had my hands full, she kept my oldest engaged in conversation while I took care of my one-year-old. She talked to them throughout my appointment and included them in the entire process. They learned about mommy's blood pressure and they even got to help with the Doppler as we listened to the baby's heartbeat together. These small acts of kindness made this appointment an enjoyable experience. I felt like the girls were important and not in the way. We've gone to SOGA for each of our pregnancies and this truly was exceptional service! Thank you, Danielle!”

Congratulations to Danielle, Our Employee of Excellence for March!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Angela Anderson-Dyer has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the Month of February. Angela is an RN in TeleNurse. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since December 2009.

Angela was nominated by a Springfield Clinic manager who wanted to recognize her for her caring and thoughtful attitude towards everyone with whom she comes in contact. Angela’s nomination read, “Angie is one the most thoughtful, caring and genuine people I have ever met. Just before Christmas, Angie Dyer organized a Christmas party for the SPARC team that cleans our office building. Angie took it upon herself to buy them gifts and host a Christmas party for them in the break room, complete with cookies and candies. Angie went all out for them - she decorated and made it a very special night for them. Angie's thoughtfulness surely impacted the lives of these individuals and taught them that Springfield Clinic--and its employees--care
about them.”

Congratulations to Angela, our Employee of Excellence for February!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Rachel Davidson has been selected as the 2012 Employee of Excellence for the month of January. Rachel is an LPN at SC 1st. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since March 1998.

Rachel was nominated by a patient who wanted to recognize her persistance in fighting for the treatment he deserved. Rachel’s nomination read, “I would like to explain how wonderful Rachel Davidson, nurse for Dr. Stephen Pineda, MD, has been. I found out that I needed major surgery on my back. At the time, we had the new insurance for State Employees. After enduring pain in my back for over 8 years, I found out I had two bad discs in my back that needed to be taken out. A couple days later, Rachel contacted me and told me that Health Link had denied my claim. I was very upset and confused. She told me not to worry and that they would file an appeal, which she did. A few days later she contacted me again with the news of another denial. She told me not to give up and gave me advice on what I could do for another appeal, along with her putting in for a Peer to Peer appeal. I took her advice and contacted all the departments I could. She too contacted the departments asking why. On the last appeal we could put in, she contacted me to let me know that it, too, was denied. My wife and I were crushed. All the hard work, along with still dealing with the pain, was terrible. She told me not to worry they would not give up fighting for me knowing that this surgery would help my life. Luckily, we found out that we could change back to our previous carrier Health Alliance. When we got our new member number, I rushed it right over to her. I got a call from Rachel--it was APPROVED! I never wanted to hug someone so bad in my life! She told me that they would never stop trying to help, and she did not lie to me. Rachel and Dr. Stephen Pineda took those extra steps and showed me that they did care. That meant so much to me! Thank you, Rachel and Springfield Clinic, for all your help. All clinics around the world need nurses like her. Because of them, I’ll be able to play with my kids again. You have given me the best gift ever: a better way of life!”

Congratulations to Rachel, our Employee of Excellence for January!
 

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Lisa Griffin has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of November. Lisa is an LPN in Psychiatry. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since March 2011.

Lisa was nominated by a fellow employee who wanted to recognize Lisa for going above and beyond to help patients feel comfortable. Lisa’s nomination included these comments, “I am not only an employee of Springfield Clinic, but also a patient that sees the physician Lisa works for. A couple months back, I felt very uncomfortable checking in at the front desk for my appointment with the physician so Lisa offered me the option of coming up the employee elevators so she could meet me in the back. She was so patient and empathetic to my situation. I normally would not disclose my issues or the physicians I see, but I genuinely feel as though Lisa deserves recognition for the great work she does within a small, very confidential department, imperative to those who need help from a psychiatrist for whatever the problems or issues they may have. Lisa is the type of nurse who makes you as the patient feel as though you aren't being judged or analyzed, but simply listened to. She is incredible, and I have no doubt I am not the only patient who would say she is a major asset to Springfield Clinic!”

Congratulations to Lisa, our Employee of Excellence for November!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Nancy Alexander has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of October. Nancy is a Registered Nurse in Urology. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since June 2009.

Nancy was nominated by a fellow employee who wanted to recognize her for the compassion she shows both in and out of the office. Her nomination read, “I have known Nancy for many years. I have worked side by side with her for just about as many. Nancy is a very compassionate nurse. She goes the extra mile to try to help all her patients. But, she is also just as compassionate outside the office. A prime example of this happened just last evening. Nancy was on her way home from work, and as many will attest, I’m sure she just wanted to get home like the rest of us. But, for Nancy, that was just something that wasn’t going to happen. As she was driving home, she witnessed a very devastating accident. Nancy not only stopped to see if she could render aid, she actually laid down on the ground to comfort the young girl, (approximately 12 years old), and stayed with her until the ambulance took her to the hospital. Nancy gave that young girl the reassurance to keep her calm and stable until the ambulance personnel could transport her. This is an excellent example of the Springfield Clinic Way. I personally am glad she is on our team.”

Congratulations to Nancy, Employee of Excellence for the Month of October!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Mary Haley-Emery has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of September. Mary is the Nurse Navigator in The Breast Health Center. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since July 2003.

Mary’s nomination read, “Mary exceeds the meaning of the word 'excellence'! She takes her job very seriously and puts herself in the shoes of the patients. Recently, a patient was diagnosed with breast cancer at a very young age. Mary spoke with her on multiple occasions just to see how she was doing. She also made arrangements for transportation to appointments and treatments. When the patient’s treatments got to be too much for her and she had to quit her job, Mary arranged for the patient to get help with housing, utilities, food and a medical card. Mary will go above and beyond when it comes to a patient’s wellbeing. I feel she is patient-centered, patient -focused and that every patient does matter.”

Congratulations to Mary, our Employee of Excellence for September!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Casey Hannel has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of August. Casey is an LPN in Prompt Care. He has been employed at Springfield Clinic since July 2006.

Casey was nominated by the grandparent of a patient who wanted to recognize him for the compassion and caring attitude that made their visit to Prompt Care exceptional. His nomination read, “Last night I went with my daughter and grandson to Prompt Care. My two year old grandson was not feeling well when he came home from day care. Casey was our nurse and he was absolutely wonderful to my grandson. From the moment he called us back until we left, he made the whole appointment a great experience. He turned taking his temperature into a tickle machine and let him help push the buttons. He drew a picture on his tablet and let my grandson color it. Casey took him out to get a sticker and came back with the doctor. I realize that when it is really busy in Prompt Care, nurses can not spend the time he did with my grandson, but it made our visit very pleasant. Casey is truly an example of an Employee of Excellence. His compassion and caring made our visit enjoyable.”

Congratulations to Casey, Employee of Excellence for the Month of August!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Teresa Russell has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of July. Teresa is a Quality Informatics Nurse in our Quality Management Department. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since July 1995.

Teresa was nominated by a patient who wanted to recognize her for the personal commitment she made to her course of care. Her nomination read, “I feel compelled to nominate Teresa Russell as an Employee of Excellence because of her commitment to me and my health. While Teresa might not have understood my history and needs, she helped me through the process step by step, telling what to expect, and being there to give me comfort and encouragement. That was four years ago, and she had been a huge support each year. This year when I made my appointment, I learned that Teresa had been promoted to a different department of Springfield Clinic. Was I surprised and delighted when Teresa offered to come in and help me again through the routine! I feel that Teresa's care and help through the past three years has been tremendous. But to offer to help me get through this health care procedure when she no longer worked in that office was far beyond anything expected of any nurse or staff member. I wish to thank Teresa with all my heart, and I honor her with this nomination.”

Congratulations to Teresa, Employee of Excellence for the Month of July!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Joann Klukis has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of June. Joann is an EEG Technician 2 in Neurology department at SC 1st East. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since April 2007.

Joann was nominated by a patient who wanted to recognize her for her personal demonstration of excellence. Her nomination read, “The definition of excellence is that by which one excels. That definition is synonymous with Springfield Clinic’s very own Joann Klukis. Our daughter was to have an ambulatory EEG which couldn’t be scheduled right away due to a very busy Clinic schedule. Joann offered to squeeze her in, which required her to come in on Easter Sunday. Joann is warm and considerate of her patients and is totally selfless when caring for someone. She is a great caregiver and in observing her with a co-worker shows that her excellence is not only for the customer for co-workers as well.”

Congratulations to Joann, our Employee of Excellence for the Month of June!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Jessica Oyler has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of May. Jessica is Receptionist for the Eye Shoppe. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since July 2008.

Jessica was nominated by a fellow co-worker who wanted to recognize her for her outstanding compassion. Her nomination read, “I would like to nominate Jessica for the compassion she shows our patients. A patient came in and was having a hard time understanding one of our forms. Jessica took the time to explain it to our patient until she fully understood. The next day the patient called Jessica to thank her for being patient with her. That same day, we had a patient come in who suffered an eye trauma and had to go to Main Campus to see Dr. Lohse. The patient could not get in touch with any family members to get ride and did not have bus fare. Jessica took the time to assist this patient in figuring out a way to Main Campus so he wouldn't be late for the appointment. I just wanted to thank Jessica for her dedication and commitment to the patients.”

Congratulations to Jessica, Employee of Excellence for the Month of May!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Linda Baer has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of April. Linda is a Registered Nurse in the Family Medicine Department at Main Campus East. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since November 1987.

Linda was nominated by a patient who wanted to bring attention to her constant delivery of extraordinary care. Her nomination read, “Linda consistently delivers extraordinary care in an exemplary, professional manner. My husband is a patient of Dr. S. Kozak's. As his condition changes and our need for assistance grows, Linda is consistently there to help us. In addition to performing her "routine" duties, she goes above and beyond offering assistance and a listening ear. She takes the time to do those extra special things that help put the patient and family at ease; extra things to help folks navigate the maze of processes. Linda is a refreshing help in what often is an overwhelming situation. It would be great if she could be cloned! As a RN myself, the insight I have to the demands of her job enable me to recognize and appreciate her professionalism, reliability and compassion. Thank you Linda for making a big difference! You represent our profession honorably!”

Congratulations to Linda, Employee of Excellence for the Month of April!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Julitta Szabo has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of March. Julie is a Registered Nurse in our Ambulatory Surgery Center. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since January 2003.

Julie was nominated by a patient who wanted to commend her for an excellent experience in an otherwise stressful situation. Her nomination read, “If one can have a "good" experience while anticipating, prepping and having a colonoscopy, then I did yesterday at Springfield Clinic. The check-in was discreet! The waiting room was serene and the person at the information desk was charming and helpful (I checked in at 7:30 AM). But my nurse, Julie, was just the best. She handled inputting my information with skill; she gave me ample time to ask questions; she accommodated my request to try and put the IV in a different location since I had had prior bad experiences; she verified medicines; and she really, really listened. My son had cancer and so we spent years in medical settings and going to the Clinic brought back some bad memories. Julie was the epitome of the "caring" nurse. Julie and your ambulatory surgery center made a nuisance but necessary procedure go first class. Thank you.”

Congratulations to Julie, our Employee of Excellence for the Month of March!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Katherine Reiser has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of February. Katherine is a Mammography Tech Aide in our Radiology Department. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since May 1992.

Katherine was nominated by a co-worker for her commitment to outstanding customer service for our patients. Her nominations read, “Kitty is always friendly, helpful and does whatever is needed to help the department run smoothly. Recently at the end of the day, outside images from another state arrived that were going to need digitizing. We had been waiting a week for the study and Kitty had already turned off her machine for the day. As soon as she was told about the images, she turned on her machine and stayed over to make sure the patient’s exam could be read that day. Kitty has a terrific team attitude and is a great asset to the department.”

Congratulations to Katherine, Employee of Excellence for the Month of February!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Vicky Bennett has been selected as the 2011 Employee of Excellence for the Month of January. Vicky is a Licensed Practical Nurse in our Ophthalmology Department. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since July 2003.

Vicky was nominated by several of her co-workers for her recent quick thinking with a patient that appeared to be having heart issues during a visit. One of her nominations read, “Last week one of our favorite floats in Ophthalmology did something remarkable. While working for Dr John Kwedar, an elderly patient and her daughter came in for a one day cataract post op visit. During the entire visit, the patient appeared distressed and kept rubbing her chest. Vicky became concerned and asked her what her symptoms were. She indicated she had an upset stomach, her back hurt when getting dressed that morning and her chest hurt. Vicky would not let the issue go unattended. She stressed to the daughter that she was sure her mother was having some heart issues and her mother needed to go to the ER for evaluation. Dr Kwedar asked Vicky to help them out to the car, and again Vicky stressed to the daughter her concern for the mother. Only after Vicky's persistence, the patient went to ER, and ended up having a heart attack that required a heart catheter and stent, along with a few days in the hospital for recovery. Dr Kwedar is convinced Vicky saved that patient's life. We in Ophthalmology are very lucky to have such a wonderful and caring coworker.” Other comments included, “Although I have only worked here a short time, I have yet to see Vicky NOT smile and be in a good mood. Vicky is always cool, calm and collected, willing to help whoever she can to get things done. She is such a great co-worker and I feel truly blessed to work alongside her. She is an amazing person to be around. She is always smiling and making people laugh. She treats every patient with concern and respect.”

Congratulations to Vicky, our Employee of Excellence for the Month of January!

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Taurie Jones has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the Month of November. Taurie is a Registered Nurse in our Orthopedics Department at SC 1st. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since September, 1999.

Taurie was nominated by several of her co-workers who wanted to recognize her dedication and exemplary attitude. One of Taurie’s nominations read, “Taurie is a RN for Dr. Borowiecki. Not only is she a wonderful nurse, she is an outstanding human being. She volunteers for various department responsibilities, serves on the code yellow team, is a super-user for Touchworks, willingly fills in for absent staff in other offices, and constantly looks out for her co-workers. Taurie's patients ask for her by name and she always makes them feel special. She is funny, witty and a ray of sunshine. She makes coming to work a pleasure.” Another nomination read, “She is always willing to help out everywhere in the department when coverage for another doctor is needed. She goes out of her way with patients. Just last week, during a busy clinic, she helped an elderly patient get in and out of her vehicle. I think she goes above and beyond the normal every day.” Another nomination noted, “In my mind, Taurie is the perfect co-worker. She is always lending a helping hand to her patients and fellow employees. She is the definition of what all Springfield Clinic employees should be!”

Congratulations to Taurie, our Employee of Excellence for the Month of November!

As our November Employee of Excellence, Taurie received $80 in gift certificates, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Amy Wilson has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the Month of October. Amy is a Registered Nurse in our Ambulatory Surgery Center. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since February 2008.

Amy was nominated by a visitor who was at Springfield Clinic with a handicapped patient and wanted to recognize her kind and gentle demeanor. Amy’s nomination read, “My sister Laura is handicapped. She has Cerebral Palsy and is totally disabled. Her speech is just utterances. Amy took care of her in the preparation room. She was kind, understanding, and very knowledgeable. She was gentle with Laura and talked to her to amuse her while she put in an IV and take her blood pressure. Laura has not been real receptive of such things in the past. Laura didn’t complain once. We were really impressed with the way Amy dealt with Laura and us. She is an outstanding nurse with people skills and Springfield Clinic should be proud to have her. Thank you for having such an excellent person on staff.”

Congratulations to Amy, our Employee of Excellence for the Month of October!

As our October Employee of Excellence, Amy received $80 in gift certificates, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Sandra Sharer has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the month of August. Sandra is a Telecommunications Specialist 3 in our Telecommunications department. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since June of 2002.

Sandra was nominated by a co-worker who wanted to recognize her quick thinking that potentially saved the life of one of our patients. Her nomination read, “This morning a relatively new operator received a call from a very confused woman. The caller could not remember her name or state what she needed. Sandra, sensing this could be a stroke, took over the call and spoke to the caller. The woman was very confused; Sandra attempted to get her name so she could find out more about the situation. The caller stated that she didn't remember her name. Sandra realized that this was an emergency situation so she asked for the woman's address. The woman was also not able to recall that information. Sandra wrote down the woman's phone number from the caller ID. She was able to find out the woman's doctor. Then the woman was unable to speak anymore. Sandra took the limited information she had, home phone number and doctor's name, and got someone from TeleNurse to attempt to talk to the woman. Using the information Sandra had obtained, they were able to call 911 for the caller. Sandra did a wonderful job trying to get any kind of information out of the caller in order to learn her identity or location. Sandra utilized our ability to see caller ID - something our department didn't have until we moved to our new location - to get the only identifiable piece of information about the caller. This little action made the difference in finding the location of the caller when she could no longer speak. Sandra's actions and quick thinking got this caller the help she needed quickly.”

Congratulations to Sandra, our Employee of Excellence for the month of August!

As our August Employee of Excellence, Sandra received $80 in gift certificates, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Todd Ekey has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the month of July.  Todd is a Systems Analyst in our IT department.  He has been employed at Springfield Clinic since August of 2006.

Todd was nominated by co-workers who wanted to recognize his consistent effort to give more than what is expected of him. One nomination read, “Todd is the type of person who goes above and beyond what is asked of him in his everyday duties. Todd is exceptionally knowledgeable and goes the extra mile to find the answers to questions he hears. The questions don't even have to pertain to his job duties, but he will learn what he can to offer assistance. Todd is always willing to help out and does what he can to assist other co-workers in streamlining their tasks to make them more efficient. Todd has been instrumental in making the self service program with Peoplesoft HR a success. Todd on a regular basis helps the Clinic save money by finding ways to create programs in house rather than purchase pricey substitutes. Todd is always there to help no matter when he is needed, holidays, nights, and weekends.” Another nomination read, “Todd is known for being quiet, calm and collective. He just goes about his day and nothing ever fazes him.  He will take on any task no matter how difficult and deliver a solution. Todd is an example of excellence in the work place and I am glad he is in IT!”

Congratulations to Todd, our Employee of Excellence for the month of July!

As our July Employee of Excellence, Todd received $80 in gift certificates, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows him to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Diane McWard-Sullivan has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the month of June. Diane is a RN at our SC Taylorville satellite. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since January of 2001.

Diane was nominated by several co-workers who wanted to recognize her extra assistance with a recent software upgrade. Here is one comment from her nominations, “Everyday is a pleasure to work with Diane. She always jumps in with no problems or hesitation with any provider that she is scheduled to work with. The patients all know and love seeing Diane. Recently with the V-11 upgrade, Diane was one of our super-users and roamed 2nd floor helping all of us through our endeavors of learning V-11 all the while being very patient and understanding. Hats off to Diane for a great job in nursing and in all aspects here at SC-Taylorville.” Another read, “Diane was given the title "Super-User" for the new V-11 system; she is that and more. Diane had the patience, knowledge and understanding to help teach all of us the new system. Along with helping with the new system, she has always gone above and beyond to help anyone at the Clinic. There was never a question too small and she always had a smile to go with her day. She has always been a kind, compassionate and caring person to work with. I cannot recommend anyone else who I think deserves this more.”

Congratulations to Diane, our Employee of Excellence for the month of June!

As our June Employee of Excellence, Diane received $80 in gift certificates, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Jennifer Lieswald has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the month of May. Jennifer is a Billings Relations Representative 2 in our Patient Accounting Department. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since May of 2007.

Jennifer was nominated by a several patients who felt that her outstanding customer service skills should be recognized. Here are several comments from her nominations, “Jennifer was so understanding and helpful in getting my claims re-billed and problems solved. She was positive and pleasant, not to mention handling the issues very professionally. Jennifer was very sympathetic and professional when I called about my billing questions. I was very impressed with the way she handled the call and most importantly my issues, I feel she needs to be commended for her efforts. I appreciate Jennifer's help. I wanted to share with you what an outstanding employee you have in Jennifer. She was a good listener and followed through as she promised. She certainly has gone above and beyond to assist my wife with our billing concerns these past few months. I can not begin to express our gratitude knowing that Springfield Clinic has such a fine individual that cares like she does. She explained to us how she would handle the matter and she called us back as she said she would.”

Congratulations to Jennifer, our Employee of Excellence for the month of May!

As our May Employee of Excellence, Jennifer received $80 in gift certificates, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Terri Sivert has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the month of April.  Terri is a Receptionist in the Lab at Main Campus East.  She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since August 1994.

Terri was nominated by a co-worker who wanted to recognize her for extra special care given with a recent patient experience. Her nomination read, “Terri is the one of those employees that definitely exemplifies "The SC Way"! She has always been an excellent co-worker and she always treats the patients like they are the best. She always goes out of her way to help others, including those of us that work with her. A very good example of the type of employee that Terri represents was reflected in an incident that happened the other day.  She saw an elderly patient come out of another area and walk toward the lobby, in which case, she noticed that he was very unsteady. She walked the gentlemen outside and asked him if he had a ride waiting for him and he replied that he did. She made him stay by the front doors so she could go out and look for the patients ride. She found the person that was waiting for the patient and went back to get the patient and he had fallen. Terri and the greeter were helping the patient when she had noticed he had a cut and was bleeding. She got some tissues and held it on his cut until they could place him in a wheelchair and back to Prompt Care. This is not unusual for Terri to do because she is always the first one to step in and help someone, whether it is a patient or an employee. I believe Terri is an asset to the Clinic and definitely to the lab.”

Congratulations to Terri, our Employee of Excellence for the month of April!

As our April Employee of Excellence, Terri received $80 in gift certificates, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay.  This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Deborah Kerley has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the month of March. Deborah is a Customer Service Complaint Facilitator in the Quality Management Department. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since May 2003.

Deborah was nominated by a number of co-worker’s who wanted to recognize her persistence in providing the best possible outcome for one of our patients. Her nomination read, “Deb has many excellent qualities. She is caring, kind, compassionate, knowledgeable, and organized; but her outstanding quality is her dedication to helping patients and staff through difficult situations. On a daily basis, she gives 110 percent to her work. As the Complaint Facilitator for the Clinic, she deals with all types of issues, and tries to find a workable solution for patients, providers, and staff. Although these situations can be challenging, her wit and humor remain constant. Her calm demeanor and common sense help the patient stay focused, in what is often an emotionally charged situation. Deb should be recognized for her contribution to making the Springfield Clinic the best healthcare provider in the area.” Another nomination read, “One of my favorite people in Quality Management is Deb Kerley. I can call her with a patient issue, and she always comes up with the perfect solution. She has a calm voice and demeanor, which she uses first to reassure and get all of the facts, and then she quickly figures out how the best way to solve the problem. Recently, I had an 80 year old patient return to SC 1st for an appointment. I noticed in the chart that her birthday was the day before her appointment. Deb got her a birthday card, and put some Bean Counter Bucks in it so she could get a treat while she was there for her appt. I would never have thought of that, and only mentioned that the patient’s birthday was the day before the appt. That’s all it took and Deb was all over it. We had the doctor give the card to the patient. Deb wasn’t interested in getting the credit; she just wanted the patient to be happy. What a valuable resource for the staff, and for the patients! This kind, funny lady goes the extra mile in every encounter, and exemplifies the SC Way!

Congratulations to Deborah, our Employee of Excellence for the month of March!

As our March Employee of Excellence, Deborah received $80 in gift certificates, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December. 

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Jennifer Richards has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the month of February.  Jennifer is a RN in the Cardiology Department.  She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since April 2009.

Jennifer was nominated by a fellow co-worker who wanted to recognize her persistence in providing the best possible outcome for one of our patients. Her nomination read, “Jennifer has been a wonderful addition to the Cardiology team since joining us in April, 2009. She is the epitome of a patient advocate and goes above and beyond every day to provide excellent service to Dr. Soliman's patients. Recently, a patient that had been referred to SC Cardiology and had a pacemaker implanted by Dr. Soliman called Jen to say that he could no longer continue the 3.5 hour drive to Springfield (one way) for his twice a year pacemaker checks. This patient wanted to go to a local cardiologist where he was established as a patient for the ongoing device maintenance. Jen placed a courtesy call to this cardiology practice and was told that the office manager would have to evaluate whether or not they would continue to provide medical care to this patient and that they were not in the business of providing care based on convenience to the patient. With grace and tact, Jen explained that this is an 85 year old patient that is saying that he cannot physically make the trip to Springfield for the follow-up visits and that we are trying to ensure that his device is monitored going forward. After multiple conversations between this office manager, Jen and myself, Jen & I were appalled at the lack of compassion regarding this patient's situation. Jen persevered on behalf of the patient and was able to confirm an appointment with this local cardiologist. The patient was extremely grateful for Jen's assistance with this matter. Jen is passionate about caring for her patients and a fantastic team player. I would like to recognize how she exemplifies the SC Way! Thank you Jen!!!

Congratulations to Jennifer, our Employee of Excellence for the month of February!

As our February Employee of Excellence, Jennifer received $80 in gift certificates, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay.  This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Karen Prather has been selected as the 2010 Employee of Excellence for the Month of January. Karen is a RN in the Tele-Nurse Department. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since November of 2005.

Karen was nominated by a fellow co-worker who wanted to recognize her professionalism in a stressful situation. Her nomination read, “Karen has always been an asset to the TeleNurse Department and to the Clinic as a whole. She is always kind and caring and always willing to help out with extra projects or work extra hours to be sure the department is well staffed. She is always kind and sympathetic to our callers. Recently, she took an emergency call about a choking patient. She was able to explain the Heimlich maneuver over the phone to caller who successfully was able to remove an obstruction that was choking the patient. She remained calm which helped the caller remain calm. She is truly an asset to the Springfield Clinic and is helping to keep our patients healthy and alive.

Congratulations to Karen, our Employee of Excellence for the Month of January!

As our January Employee of Excellence, Karen received a $80 gift certificate, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2010 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Debra Ward

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Debra Ward has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of November. Debra is a LPN in the Neurology Department at SC 1st. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since December of 1992.

Debra was nominated by a fellow co-worker’s who felt her extra effort and dedication should be exemplified. One nomination read, “Deb is an incredibly hardworking employee. She is very dedicated to her patients and their care. She stays late everyday so that she can make sure that all issues are addressed. She gives it her all every day even with the challenges that each day presents. She always has a positive attitude and treats every one with love, compassion and respect. I couldn't ask for a better co-worker.” Another nomination read, “Deb is awesome!!! She is always happy and nice to all people, whether it is in person, on the phone, fellow employee or patient. Deb always treats all people with the same sincerity and respect. Deb is also an extremely hard worker, getting all things done for the next day before she leaves no matter what the time of day is. Deb deserves to be the EOE for at least one month if not the whole year!”

Patricia Rodgers

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Patricia Rodgers has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of October. Patricia is a Receptionist in the Ophthalmology Department at Main Campus West. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since August of 2008.

Patricia was nominated by a fellow co-worker who felt her outstanding qualities should be recognized. Her nomination read, “It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I am writing to endorse PJ Rodgers for the Employee of Excellence program. My first contact with PJ was during the summer of 2008 when she worked as a medical assistant for our department. During the time I have known her, she has distinguished herself as a conscientious and energetic employee. She is particularly gifted at learning new tasks, performing in office procedures, identifying with the patient’s needs and problem solving before she consults the doctor. Her commitment and passion for her work are evident everyday. She has the qualities of a natural caretaker: genuineness, warmth, compassion and integrity. PJ is the model employee and I wish there were more people who are as kind and as charismatic as her. She is truly an asset to our department and to the Springfield Clinic.”

Janice Garrison

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Janice Garrison has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of September. Janice is a Human Resources Receptionist in the Human Resources department at Main Campus. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since September of 1997.

Janice was nominated by a co-worker who wanted to recognize her outstanding customer service skills. Her nomination read, “I would like to nominate Jan for Employee of Excellence. Human Resources recently started a new application process and many applicants initially struggled with that process. Jan has shown an amazing amount of patience and kindness with them. I have seen her pull up a chair and walk an applicant through the whole process. She has spent numerous hours on phone calls with applicants patiently answering their questions and guiding them through the application process. She always has a smile on her face when she is working with them and really helps them. I'm sure that because of her kindness and patience they are glad they are applying at Springfield Clinic. She is truly a wonderful asset to our department and a deserving "Employee of Excellence."

Anna Manfredo

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Anna Manfredo has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of August. Anna is a Nuclear Medicine Technologist in our Nuclear Medicine Department at Main Campus. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since June of 2007.

Anna received her nomination from a fellow co-worker who wanted to recognize that little extra that she gives to all her patients. Her nomination read, “A patient of mine has a condition in which she must under go scans every few months. She has a little claustrophobia, not to mention a great deal of anxiety about what the results will be. She jokingly made the comment once that the scan would be better if there was a picture of George Clooney awaiting her at the end. Anna went home, found an acceptable picture of George, printed it out at home and brought it in to keep in the patient’s folder. Prior to each scan, she tapes this in place for the patient to see. Now every time this patient has to under go these scans, she knows that George will be waiting for her. It does a wonderful job of eliminating the claustrophobia and lessening her anxiety. How considerate of Anna to take the extra time to put this in place for her each time she has to have her scans.”

Robert Santos Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Robert Santos has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of July. Robert is a Registered Nurse in our Oncology Department at Main Campus. He has been employed at Springfield Clinic since June of 2006.

Robert received his nomination from a patient who felt his efforts should be recognized. The nomination read, “I want to nominate Bob Santos as an employee of excellence. There are days when I arrive for treatment that I am feeling rather low, but Bob always puts a smile on my face. Bob is friendly and is always positive and as a result I always leave my treatments with a better attitude about my medical situation. It takes a special person to make a chemo patient feel better after treatment than it does before treatment. Way to go Bob!!”

Anne Conrady

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Anne Conrady has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of June. Anne is a Registered Nurse at our Lincoln Family Care office. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since October of 1996.

Anne received several nominations from co-workers who wanted to recognize her never failing upbeat attitude. One nomination read, “Anne is a very pleasant, friendly nurse. She is always willing to help everyone out. I appreciate her positive attitude and her willingness to always be helpful.” Another nomination read, “Anne is consistently upbeat and a pleasure to be around. She is a phone nurse in the OB department, and she truly does answer every call with a smile in her voice. She cheerfully takes on any extra duty asked of her and is polite to everyone in every situation. If she has bad days, no one would ever know it from talking to her on the phone or in person. Anne truly exhibits the SC way in her dedication to patients, spirit of teamwork, and contributions to a positive working environment. We are very lucky to have her with us!!”

Neil Osborn

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Neil Osborn has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of May. Neil is a Programmer Analyst in our Information Technologies department. He has been employed at Springfield Clinic since October of 2006.

Neil received numerous nominations from co-workers who wanted to recognize him for his extra efforts recently related to the Dr. Leutz merger in Jacksonville. One nomination read, “Neil has been indispensable to the Clinic in processing the electronic record integration for Dr. Leutz. He learned the other EHR system, wrote custom programming for pulling the medical records and photos into the network, and even took the time to write a step-by-step procedure for the HIM Department to do this. He has a wonderful work ethic and great customer service even as we call him up to a dozen times a day! I have never seen anyone more deserving of the EOE in my 21 years at the Clinic.” Another nomination read, “Neil is an exceptional employee. He has worked diligently to get everything done that we have needed for the Leutz merger. It didn't matter what we needed he made sure we had it. Neil always went the extra mile for us. That makes him "simply the best" as far as we are concerned. Thank you Neil for everything you did to make this merger run smoothly.” And yet another read, “Neil has been quiet, but he is one of the main reasons for the success of bringing Dr. Leutz live on Touch Works. We had to work with a smaller EMR supplier in order to get patient information and they did not have the information that we needed. This did not stop Neil. He heavily researched getting the information out and ultimately came up with a solution without the help of the EMR supplier. He has also spent many hours on site working with the Jacksonville office working on installation. Everyone I have talked to keeps telling me how awesome Neil is and what a great job he has done!”

Debra Clouser Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Debra Clouser has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of April. Debra is a Telecommunications Specialist 3 in our Telecommunications department. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since December of 1999.

Debra received nominations from co-workers who wanted to recognize her for the excellence in all that she does. One nomination read, “She exemplifies the core values of the SC Way. Debi strives to provide excellence in all that she does and promotes honesty and integrity on a daily basis. She treats patients, doctors, and fellow employees as equals and goes out of her way to be pleasant and helpful. You will never encounter Debi not doing what is best for the patient. Just the other day she received a thank you note from QM, letting her know that a patient passed on a compliment about her being so helpful. When one of her co-workers is feeling down, she is always the first one to lend a shoulder and we can always count on Debi for a smile and a laugh. She is also in charge of the interpreter program and does everything possible when needing to reach hearing-impaired patients. All in all, Debi is a great person to have in your corner and the Clinic is lucky indeed to have her as an employee.” Another nomination read, “Debi is always willing to help with any problem that may arise in the department, research the problem and help solve it. Debi is a great team player, works well with her fellow employees and is a great asset to the department.”

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Thomas Grimes has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of March. Thomas is a Conversion/Integration Analyst in our Quality Management department. He has been employed at Springfield Clinic since April of 2004.

Thomas received nominations from several co-workers who feel that his job performance is always above and beyond. One nomination read, “He is one of the hardest working people I know that always gives more than expected on each and every project, and he is always on project overload. He is a professional hard working employee who more than deserves to be recognized. He has been through the thick and thin of the EHR and it could not have made it without him.” Another nomination read, “Tom Grimes is one of the finest persons I have had the privilege to work with at the Clinic. He truly loves his job and enjoys assisting others. His understanding of EHR is phenomenal, and he is truly a wealth of information. Tom is the SC Way personified!” Another read, “Tom has been with our department from its conception throughout the entire implementation of Touchworks. Throughout this transition process, Tom’s work has touched every single person in the Clinic in more ways than one. As we have moved through all of the clinic offices, Tom has maintained an outstanding attitude, a willingness to help, and in my opinion, excellent customer service. Tom is truly a great individual to work with and helps to brighten each and every day. He is another 'behind the scenes' person that really should be recognized for all that he does.”

Stacey Sanders
RN, Carlinville

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Stacey Sanders has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of February. Stacey is a RN at our Carlinville office. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since September of 2006.

Stacey was nominated by a fellow employee who wanted to recognize her for putting patient’s first. Her nomination read, “On New Year's Eve, a day when most of us wish to leave on time, if not early, Stacey ended up staying past 5pm, to help find a medication for some frantic parents. This pediatric patient has Cystic Fibrosis in addition to an unusual bacterial infection. A culture showed that there was only one antibiotic that would be effective in this situation. The two year old was too young to take pills. Stacey called all the pharmacies in our local town, plus the ones in neighboring towns as well. We finally determined that no one carried the pediatric medication, but a pharmacist told her the parents could crush the tablet. Shortly before 5pm, the mother called and told Stacy that the taste was so bad that the two year old would not take the crushed tablet. Being chronically ill, the parents were a bit frantic. Dad was willing to travel over an hour to Springfield or Edwardsville if Stacey could find the liquid form. After staying over and calling several more pharmacies, Stacy found it in Edwardsville and called it in to the thankful parents. This incident is not isolated for Stacey. She continues to amaze me with her dedication to her pediatric patients and their families. She consistently goes above and beyond to help them out, sometimes sacrificing her own time to do so. This is why I believe she deserves to be nominated as an "Employee of Excellence".”

Congratulations to Stacey, our Employee of Excellence for the Month of February!

As our February Employee of Excellence, Stacey received a $50 gift certificate, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2009 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.

Kathleen Ball
Programmer/Analyst, Information Technologies

Springfield Clinic is very pleased to announce that Kathleen Ball has been selected as the 2009 Employee of Excellence for the Month of January. Kathleen is a Programmer Analyst in the Information Technologies Department. She has been employed at Springfield Clinic since June of 2007.

Kathleen was nominated by a couple of fellow employees who felt that her attributes made her a perfect candidate for the Employee of Excellence. One nomination read, “Kathleen is in so many ways a true example of a Springfield Clinic Employee of Excellence. She is dedicated and hard working - often staying late into the evening making sure she provides excellent internal customer service and gets the enormous amount of work on her plate complete. Her role within the clinic is a vital one, but she often goes unseen and unnoticed, but her work does not. She is a behind the scenes worker that makes the website run and is on the leading edge of new technology that is changing the way we communicate and care for our patients. She is helping revolutionize healthcare and she deserves to be recognized for her great contribution. Besides her technological skills, she is loyal, eager and always willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. She believes in the clinic's mission and values and demonstrates the SC Way on a daily basis. She is one of the hardest working employees at Springfield Clinic. She's always positive, never complains and always delivers. She's a truly amazing person and a fine example of what an employee of excellence should be.” Another nomination read, “Kathleen routinely provides "Excellent" Customer Service. I can visualize what I want, and she seems to always figure out the most cost effective and timely solution. Not only that, but she seems to provide much more than is originally asked for. When we need something, she almost always comes back with a solution that we can then depend on for many future needs. When they say "think outside the box", they must have been talking about Kathleen.”

Congratulations to Kathleen, our Employee of Excellence for the Month of January!

As our January Employee of Excellence, Kathleen received a $50 gift certificate, an award pin, a commemorative certificate, and an additional day off with pay. This recognition also allows her to be a candidate for our 2009 Employee of the Year, which will be selected in December.