Staff who exceed expectations in the workplace

Recognition of achievements in customer service, innovative ideas, going above and beyond and creating synergy in the work place.
 

Recognition for 
2012

 

Workplace Recognition – Exceeding expectations, ideas that improve the workplace, stepping up and out of the everyday, promoting teamwork and improving morale – are represented by the accomplishments of the following staff:

 

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January

Customer Service
Oliver Bichakjian – Pathology Informatics   

“As one of the primary contacts during the migration from Groupwise to Outlook, Oliver had many troubled customers and a multitude of responses to provide! He handled these requests during that hectic time in the same manner he responds to all inquiries – with a smile and a solution. Oliver’s continuing actions are a perfect example of customer service”.

Innovative Ideas
A.J. Dudas – Microbiology/Virology

A restructure of inventory worksheets for Virology, including repositioning of supplies has reduced the time required to complete inventory by 50%!  This innovative idea has resulted in both time and cost savings!

Above and Beyond
Rebecca Heberlein-Rollins – Surgical Pathology

While scheduled on the day shift, Rebecca recently volunteered to cover an evening shift until an open position could be filled. While this action assisted with operations in the unit, Rebecca did not volunteer this time only. As noted on her nomination, “She is always willing to fill in where needed ON ANY SHIFT. Some days, she covers several different areas, depending on workload and is one of the ‘greatest multi-taskers’ known!  Going “Above and Beyond” to meet the needs of our patients!

Creating Synergy
Khizar Jahangir – Surgical Pathology

“Anticipating the needs of others and making every effort to exceed them should be our goal! Khizar’s actions once noting that demand in the consult and accessioning area exceeded the capacity for returns. This was discovered during Khizar’s normal mail run and once completed, he volunteered several hours of time to assist with returns. Promoting teamwork is a benchmark of creating synergy”!

 

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February

Customer Service

Oliver Bichakjian – Informatics   

"There is no one single incident that highlights Oliver's outstanding customer service – it's every interaction!"

 

Innovative Ideas

Lisa Paradise – Point of Care

"Lisa worked diligently to make the transition to MiChart as smooth as possible and created a reference binder with written and visual aids to support the variety of learning techniques to guide staff through processes". An outstanding idea that assisted her colleagues during this transition!

 

Above and Beyond

Mary Kalafus – Surgical Pathology

"Already scheduled to cut clinical and cover Rm 1 lunch, Mary also covered rush special stains, worked overtime to cover the evening OR run and evening frozen room coverage. Definitely Above and Beyond!"

 

Creating Synergy

Jerry Davis – Hematology

"Jerry is always looking for ways to do things better and never stops. He manages stresses well and calms us all down!" Creating synergy and promoting calm!

 

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March

Customer Service

Jeanette Gohl – Surgical Pathology   

"In trying to obtain a copy of his father's death certificate, a customer indicated that Jeanette was kind, helpful, with a great sense of humor. Her directions were perfect and helped him accomplish his request". This is customer service at its best!

 

Melissa Brown – MLabs   

"Liberty Peds communicated a loud "thanks!" to Melissa for her efforts in coordinating a change by our Microbiology Lab regarding strep testing. The change allowed for a more comfortable specimen procedure for the patient and saved the client on the cost of the swab". Improving service and saving costs for our customers!

 

Innovative Ideas

Bill Hubbard and Todd Kandow – Informatics

"Bill and Todd developed the new EMPI (New Enterprise Master Person Index) which was critical to the daily success of the department's IT operations including patient care, billing and client services." An outstanding effort exemplifying innovation!

 

Above and Beyond

Yusuf Peaks – HLA Tissue Typing

"Yusuf volunteered for the role of "safety liaison" for Traverwood. He has developed an overall well-planned comprehensive safety program which has had significant impact on our laboratories". A perfect example of stepping out of the every day.

 

Creating Synergy

Danielle Fritzsche – Surgical Pathology

"Danielle demonstrates her outstanding leadership skills and integrity in our weekly dashboard and continually demonstrates organizational values." Promoting teamwork through actions!

 

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April

Customer Service

Susan Clark, Hematology   

"Susan stayed late to complete a bone marrow collection and stain slides so that a patient and family could receive their diagnosis. She knew the parents were worried and wanted to help contribute to the rapid diagnosis. The news was not good, but her actions contributed toward starting treatment for the patient."

 

Innovative Ideas

Jeff Sica & Brent Temple, Pathology Informatics

"The new Pathology Website Content Management System has propelled into a new level of self-empowerment for both individuals and laboratory sections alike, where web content can be updated in real time by our users. Brent and Jeff were instrumental in the design, implementation and activity of this new tool which will be used on a continuous basis by many of us."

 

Creating Synergy

Usha Kota, Hematology

"Usha is always looking for ways to improve the work environment. She encourages staff engagement and working as a team. She listens to suggestions and encourages solutions that work for everyone."

 

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May

Customer Service

Jennifer Mattison, Pathology Billing Office   

“During the MiChart integration, Jennifer’s willingness to learn all processes associated with the new system helped to ensure that paperwork flowed and goals were met to keep billing at a manageable level during these transitional times. She is a great “go to” person and a valuable resource”.

 

Sara Gay, Hematopathology-Coagulation and Ann Rosin, Specimen Procurement   

Upon noticing that a patient had been waiting for a significant amount of time for a platelet aggregation, Ann contacted Sara Gay who confirmed that the patient was not scheduled. When this was communicated to the patient, she became very upset since she had driven a long way and completed preparation for the test. In Ann’s words, she knew “we had to fix this for her!” She re-contacted Sara, who completed the procedure since there was not a technologist scheduled. The patient left, very happy, thanking Ann and Sara many times over! Thank you, Ann for nominating your colleague for her actions and congratulations for being recognized as co-recipient by the Employee Recognition Committee for your outstanding customer service in this patient’s care!

 

Above and Beyond

Nikko Thomas, Pathology Billing Office

During the recent MiChart Billing implementation, Nikko not only stayed on task with her duties, but, demonstrating a willingness to learn “anything new” was able to assist others. Working long hours and weekends without being asked, Nikko’s attitude and flexibility contributed to the smooth operations of this unit.

 

Kathryn Macdonald, Microbiology

Kate assisted the afternoon shift in repairing a piece of equipment, not only changing the anaerobe bag, but showing staff how to do this. As indicated in her nomination, “we would not have known what to do without her!”.

 

Creating Synergy

Tierra Denard, Point of Care

On a very busy Monday, in response to a colleague who was handling numerous complex orders, Tierra stepped in to welcome, MiChart, order and draw patients ensuring excellent service. As noted in her nomination, “Tierra is always a champion in representing great customer service, but today she exhibited both teamwork and great internal and external customer service”.

 

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June

Customer Service

Amy Jackson, Blood Bank   

With a patient in the OR, Amy made several phone calls to facilitate the completion of preadmission type and screen paperwork necessary to expedite delivery of blood products. Had she not facilitated this process, it would have resulted in requiring a new sample to be submitted for testing and a delay in delivery of the crossmatched product.

 

Lori Hufstedler, Surgical Transcription   

Always willing to go the extra mile, Lori stayed nearly an hour after her shift searching through documentation, including recycling bins, to locate a key document needed by one of the pathologists to complete their diagnosis.

 

Innovative Ideas

Jerry Davis and Joshua Jacques(Clinical Pathology);

John Perrin(Anatomic Pathology Administration)

Jeff Sica(Pathology Informatics)

This group developed a tool entitled “Real Time Test Tracker” which has been implemented in Hematology and is helping to improve patient care by tracking overdue testing for infusion patients. This has improved process in Hematology and can and will be modified for other laboratories for their defined workflow.

 

Above and Beyond

Tina Gray and Carl Byington, Chemical Pathology

During a cold water shutdown lasting 5 hours, the efforts of Carl and Tina ensured that cold water was available during this shutdown and tests were performing as normal and completed. These combined efforts ensured that that the lab did not notice a lag in normal operations!

 

Creating Synergy

Laura Kraus, Specimen Processing

Laura is always willing to pick up extra sweeps and on the weekends, completes the cyclo drop solo allowing the lab to keep up with a heavy load of MLabs and UMHS work!

 

Jaclyn Spalding, Hematopathology

Jaclyn goes out of her way to assist her co-workers by filling in any “extra” time by helping others who need assistance – no matter who the person is or what kind of work needs to be done.

 

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July

Customer Service

Sara Gay and Onike Mnzava, Hematology-Coagulation   

Sara and Onike received profound thanks from the Blood Bank, Hematology and Cardiovascular services for their actions on the 4th of July! A critically ill patient required an HIT assay to determine the course of treatment. Sara was willing to come in on the holiday and Onike was able to run the test while other staff helped to cover Coagulation activities. Outstanding customer support for our colleagues and our patients!

 

Innovative Ideas

Lena Kleyman-Smith, Tissue Typing

Lena has been involved in the implementation of the new Laboratory Information System –HistoTrac including investigating modules that had not previously been thought of, has written the protocols and procedures for each application, holding weekly educational sessions with staff to keep everyone up to date. In additional, she has been involved in building the work management reports for this tool. Much of the success with HistoTrac, as indicated by her supervisor, “is due to Lena’s prominent involvement”.

 

Above and Beyond

Karen Machinski, Microbiology

The prompt recognition of a possible problem with blood culture bottles and completion of print screens with follow up by Karen with the resident to determine if there were commonalities among the five patients identified, resulted in follow up with the manufacturer and identification of a probably quality issue. Data is being collected to determine if this problem requires reporting to the FDA. Above and beyond to ensure quality care for our patients!

 

Creating Synergy

Chanin Kelly, Specimen Processing

Chanin is a “go to” person for all staff, sharing ideas, working to accomplish all tasks and supporting the efforts of the entire unit. Creating a positive work environment and team building are the cornerstones of Creating Synergy!

 

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August

Customer Service

Erin Loyer and Danielle Marshall, Surgical Pathology   

Late on a Friday afternoon, Dr. Amir Lagstein, after reviewing a transplant lung biopsy concluded that the possibility of infection with an organism called Pneumocystis jiroveci needed to be confidently excluded with a GMS stain. With no regularly scheduled special stains completed on the weekend and no histotechnologist scheduled proficient in performing a GMS stain. The team concluded that Monday was not soon enough to accomplish this process and Danielle and Erin stayed late on Friday to manually stain an unstained slide and within two hours, Dr. Lagstein was able to call the physician with the result! Customer service AND “putting patients first”.

 

Innovative Ideas

Charles Banas, Microbiology

After bringing attention to a problem with turnaround times for susceptibilities from sterile body fluids using the chocolate plate, Charley requested approval from Dr. Newton to perform a validation comparing susceptibility testing from blood and chocolate to see if there was a difference in the results. The summarized data showed no difference and the change was approved resulting in improved turnaround times. An innovative that makes a difference in the workplace!

 

Above and Beyond

Sabah Weslati, Microbiology

Upon noting that approximately 20 Vitek sensitivity cards terminated from different benches, Sabah, who was completing a double and covering the midnight shift, volunteered to find the original plates and re-setup the Viteks. These actions ensured that antibiotic susceptibilities on urine and wound cultures would not be delayed until the next day and directly impacted and improved patient care. Going above and beyond and “putting patients first!”

 

Creating Synergy

Stephanie Allen, Surgical Pathology

Stephanie has been recognized by her colleagues for teamwork on multiple occasions. She is always willing to fill in where needed without prior notice and on one day wore four different hats – she was scheduled to cut, but she also embedded and cover lunch for Children and Women’s and then Room 1! Most recently, she volunteered to cover an unexpected absence which resulted in working back to back double shifts. Promoting teamwork is a true representation of “creating synergy!”

 

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September

Customer Service
Robert Killen, Pathology Informatics

“Bob was able to develop a complex server infrastructure for Paradigm allowing creation of the database services layer on time…and completed this while maintaining focus on internal infrastructure and security tasks!” Providing the best in customer service!

 

Above and Beyond
Charles Banas, Brad Childs, Kathleen Cullen, Fadi Gammou,
Lily Massengill, Becky Ott, Saira Ramirez, Ruth Tarrow

“Upon discovery of an emerging problem – nonviable gram negative rods in direct smears form sterile specimens, this team worked together to discover the source of the contamination. Their efforts resulted in preventing the Microbiology Laboratory from reporting false positive results!” Going “above and beyond” in a collective fashion!

 

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October

Above and Beyond

Alan Machcinski  -  Pathology Informatics

Recognizing the department would not need custom-developed software from a vendor, Alan took it upon himself to initiate the appropriate procedures resulting in the department being reimbursed for over 90% of the original payment. The actions Alan took go above and beyond his role's responsibilities and his commitment to the department's financial health are commended!

 

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November

Customer Service
Kaelynn Williams  -  Microbiology 

When a co-worker was having problems resulting a Viper run one evening, Kaelynn stayed after her shift to help. Kaelynn was ready to search for more samples and contact the appropriate staff if repeating the run was unsuccessful. When the repeated run was successful she resulted it allowing her co-worker to clean the instrument again. The dedication to fellow staff and patient care is definitely above and beyond!