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Congratulations to Aunjanae McQueen, a technician in our Endoscopy Clinic and one of Valley's February 2023 Heroes! See what her teammates have to say: "Team player to the max, willing to take on tasks or projects to make it easier and more convenient for fellow teammates. Vast knowledge of her education and her duties as a Valley employee. She is very knowledgeable and (has a) caring personality, gives the biggest and greatest hugs from the heart. She is outstanding in every way, if you ask her a question, she will find the answer for you." "Aunjanae always reports with a friendly and professional demeanor which she shares with patients and teammates alike. She is a highly skilled endoscopy technician, highly competent with endoscopy advanced procedures. Our GI therapy physician endoscopists give her consistent praises. When we have more complicated cases, she is requested specifically to support. Aunjanae is also very well respected and liked by the entire team. Aunjanae McQueen is a great human and coworker."
Congratulations to Aunjanae McQueen, a technician in our Endoscopy Clinic and one of Valley's February 2023 Heroes! See what her teammates have to say: "Team player to the max, willing to take on tasks or projects to make it easier and more convenient for fellow teammates. Vast knowledge of her education and her duties as a Valley employee. She is very knowledgeable and (has a) caring personality, gives the biggest and greatest hugs from the heart. She is outstanding in every way, if you ask her a question, she will find the answer for you." "Aunjanae always reports with a friendly and professional demeanor which she shares with patients and teammates alike. She is a highly skilled endoscopy technician, highly competent with endoscopy advanced procedures. Our GI therapy physician endoscopists give her consistent praises. When we have more complicated cases, she is requested specifically to support. Aunjanae is also very well respected and liked by the entire team. Aunjanae McQueen is a great human and coworker."
Following successful participation and completion of their Health Equity Collaborative, the Washington State Hospital Association acknowledged Valley's "extraordinary commitment to implementing processes and procedures to advance health equity" for our patients and highlighted the leadership of EDI Program Managers Priyanka Choudhury and Ada Cohen (pictured below ), as well as the work of the whole team of Valley participants. WSHA's Senior Vice President, Safety & Quality, Darcy Jaffe says in a letter to Valley CEO Jeannine Erickson Grinnell, "Over the past year and a half, a team of professionals from Valley Medical Center, led by Priyanka Choudhury and Ada Cohen, participated in several quality improvement sprints focused on improving collection of patient demographic data. Your team actively participated in educational webinars and supported peers undertaking similar efforts by providing over 12 hours of peer coaching and learning as a collaborative. "
Following successful participation and completion of their Health Equity Collaborative, the Washington State Hospital Association acknowledged Valley's "extraordinary commitment to implementing processes and procedures to advance health equity" for our patients and highlighted the leadership of EDI Program Managers Priyanka Choudhury and Ada Cohen (pictured below ), as well as the work of the whole team of Valley participants. WSHA's Senior Vice President, Safety & Quality, Darcy Jaffe says in a letter to Valley CEO Jeannine Erickson Grinnell, "Over the past year and a half, a team of professionals from Valley Medical Center, led by Priyanka Choudhury and Ada Cohen, participated in several quality improvement sprints focused on improving collection of patient demographic data. Your team actively participated in educational webinars and supported peers undertaking similar efforts by providing over 12 hours of peer coaching and learning as a collaborative. "
Kudos to Brittany Metcalf, RN, First Recipient of Valley’s Outreach Volunteer of the Quarter Award! Every year we strive to make positive impacts in our community, but we could not do it without the support of our amazing outreach volunteers. In 2022, Joint & Spine Center nurse, Brittany Metcalf, RN, volunteered at four separate events and was invaluable in helping us make a difference in the lives of those we serve. At these events, Brittany supported her community in the following ways: Helping to fit children with bicycle helmets to ensure the highest level of safety Supporting the medical tent at the Be the Hope walk, raising money for all cancers, including cancer services here at Valley Medical Center Helping perform over 300 blood pressure and blood sugar screenings at the Gurudwara Singh Sabha temple and providing valuable health education to those within the community.
Kudos to Brittany Metcalf, RN, First Recipient of Valley’s Outreach Volunteer of the Quarter Award! Every year we strive to make positive impacts in our community, but we could not do it without the support of our amazing outreach volunteers. In 2022, Joint & Spine Center nurse, Brittany Metcalf, RN, volunteered at four separate events and was invaluable in helping us make a difference in the lives of those we serve. At these events, Brittany supported her community in the following ways: Helping to fit children with bicycle helmets to ensure the highest level of safety Supporting the medical tent at the Be the Hope walk, raising money for all cancers, including cancer services here at Valley Medical Center Helping perform over 300 blood pressure and blood sugar screenings at the Gurudwara Singh Sabha temple and providing valuable health education to those within the community.
Applause for Changemaker Shamim Nejad, MD, our January 2023 Provider of the Month! Chief Medical Officer, James Park, had this to say to Psychiatry Hospitalist, Dr. Shamim Nejad at his POM presentation: "We are all here to celebrate with you and congratulate you. Since coming here, you have absolutely transformed the way we take care of our inpatient psychiatry patients. Before you got here, we simply did not have the right external or internal resources to care for such complex patients. It was hard on the staff, the other providers, and on the patients. When you started, you said, 'We're gonna need a bigger boat.' And so we got a bigger boat (more providers), transforming this program to give our patients better treatment and better outcomes, and it's made a huge difference for everyone involved. This is all due to your support and leadership, and you deserve this recognition!"
Applause for Changemaker Shamim Nejad, MD, our January 2023 Provider of the Month! Chief Medical Officer, James Park, had this to say to Psychiatry Hospitalist, Dr. Shamim Nejad at his POM presentation: "We are all here to celebrate with you and congratulate you. Since coming here, you have absolutely transformed the way we take care of our inpatient psychiatry patients. Before you got here, we simply did not have the right external or internal resources to care for such complex patients. It was hard on the staff, the other providers, and on the patients. When you started, you said, 'We're gonna need a bigger boat.' And so we got a bigger boat (more providers), transforming this program to give our patients better treatment and better outcomes, and it's made a huge difference for everyone involved. This is all due to your support and leadership, and you deserve this recognition!"
Congratulations to Kawai Kaneali'i, MSN, RN, Valley's Community Health & Wellness Advocate, and recipient of UW Medicine's 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award. The award honors individuals or groups who exemplify Martin Luther King Jr.'s principles through: Commitment to addressing community needs, particularly communities of color and low income Development and implementation of significant programs to improve the human condition Outstanding efforts to protect and empower all individuals Kawai's nominators wrote: "The EDI team appreciates Kawai’s efforts tremendously and we are so thrilled for her to be receiving this award. As a colleague, Kawai brings her amazing smile and heart to her work every day. Her ability to build effective relationships and worthwhile connections with Valley staff members and providers, representatives from local community organizations, patients, and our neighbors have been huge contributors to her success in her role.
Congratulations to Kawai Kaneali'i, MSN, RN, Valley's Community Health & Wellness Advocate, and recipient of UW Medicine's 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award. The award honors individuals or groups who exemplify Martin Luther King Jr.'s principles through: Commitment to addressing community needs, particularly communities of color and low income Development and implementation of significant programs to improve the human condition Outstanding efforts to protect and empower all individuals Kawai's nominators wrote: "The EDI team appreciates Kawai’s efforts tremendously and we are so thrilled for her to be receiving this award. As a colleague, Kawai brings her amazing smile and heart to her work every day. Her ability to build effective relationships and worthwhile connections with Valley staff members and providers, representatives from local community organizations, patients, and our neighbors have been huge contributors to her success in her role.
Five Valley Providers Named 2022 United Heroes by United Healthcare Todd Curtis, MD, Elisabeth Golden, ARNP, Dina T Nguyen, MD, Creguta Stepan, MD, and Heather Rudisill, MD, were recognized as United Heroes for their performance in 2022 by insurer UnitedHealthcare. Providers were rated highly for their patients getting needed care, care coordination, and their effective communication with patients. Congratulations to these caregivers—this is a recognition of Valley Medical Center's Clinic Network team, as well as the individual providers!
Five Valley Providers Named 2022 United Heroes by United Healthcare Todd Curtis, MD, Elisabeth Golden, ARNP, Dina T Nguyen, MD, Creguta Stepan, MD, and Heather Rudisill, MD, were recognized as United Heroes for their performance in 2022 by insurer UnitedHealthcare. Providers were rated highly for their patients getting needed care, care coordination, and their effective communication with patients. Congratulations to these caregivers—this is a recognition of Valley Medical Center's Clinic Network team, as well as the individual providers!
A Jewel Who Always Goes the Extra Mile, Congrats to Volunteer of the Quarter, Joyce Martin Congratulations to our Winter Volunteer of the Quarter, Joyce Martin, a volunteer who previously worked at the main information desk and has switched to the Gift Shop, due to her interest in retail and wanting to take on more responsibility. Joyce is always eager to assist wherever needed. She’s very humble and a quick learner. Joyce is patient and always goes the extra mile, even making her way down to the hospital in the snow. One of Joyce’s nominators said, "In the short time since she’s joined us, Joyce has already become a fantastic addition to our team. She is very reliable and is a hard worker— in the store and in the office with bookkeeping. It's not often you find volunteers who can do both, but Joyce does it with ease. Joyce has a great personality and loves interacting with visitors and patients.” Joyce truly is a jewel, and we're so lucky to have her as a volunteer.
A Jewel Who Always Goes the Extra Mile, Congrats to Volunteer of the Quarter, Joyce Martin Congratulations to our Winter Volunteer of the Quarter, Joyce Martin, a volunteer who previously worked at the main information desk and has switched to the Gift Shop, due to her interest in retail and wanting to take on more responsibility. Joyce is always eager to assist wherever needed. She’s very humble and a quick learner. Joyce is patient and always goes the extra mile, even making her way down to the hospital in the snow. One of Joyce’s nominators said, "In the short time since she’s joined us, Joyce has already become a fantastic addition to our team. She is very reliable and is a hard worker— in the store and in the office with bookkeeping. It's not often you find volunteers who can do both, but Joyce does it with ease. Joyce has a great personality and loves interacting with visitors and patients.” Joyce truly is a jewel, and we're so lucky to have her as a volunteer.
Congratulations to Jas Khehra, a nurse on our general surgery unit and one of Valley's January 2023 Heroes! See what her teammates have to say: "She is very empathetic towards her patients and staff. She always guides us through knowledge. Jas told me once that 'Nursing does not start from your mind, it starts from your heart. If you genuinely care for your patient, then you can take good care of them.' I agree with that. Whenever Jas is on as our charge nurse, I know that I will get to learn something new from her. She is a really good example of a perfect leader, who not only cares for 30 patients, but also make sure her staff is well taken care of. Thank you, Jas, for being YOU. YOU are one of our greatest leaders. Thank you for always enlightening us with your knowledge and expertise." "Jas always goes above and beyond for both her patients and co-workers. She is a role model that truly cares for her patients like family. As a new nurse, I can learn a lot from her."
Congratulations to Jas Khehra, a nurse on our general surgery unit and one of Valley's January 2023 Heroes! See what her teammates have to say: "She is very empathetic towards her patients and staff. She always guides us through knowledge. Jas told me once that 'Nursing does not start from your mind, it starts from your heart. If you genuinely care for your patient, then you can take good care of them.' I agree with that. Whenever Jas is on as our charge nurse, I know that I will get to learn something new from her. She is a really good example of a perfect leader, who not only cares for 30 patients, but also make sure her staff is well taken care of. Thank you, Jas, for being YOU. YOU are one of our greatest leaders. Thank you for always enlightening us with your knowledge and expertise." "Jas always goes above and beyond for both her patients and co-workers. She is a role model that truly cares for her patients like family. As a new nurse, I can learn a lot from her."
Congratulations to Nick Borsenik, a Speech Pathologist on our Inpatient Speech Pathology team and one of Valley's January 2023 Heroes! See what her teammate has to say: "I would like to recognize Nick for her incredible commitment to excellence. She has been instrumental in allowing our team to provide a new instrumental swallow study (FEES-Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) option to our patients and is providing our team with invaluable training so we may expand this service. She is a lifelong learner and seeks to stay abreast of the most recent literature to provide evidence-based practice. She is a visionary and a leader in program development and improving current practices. She collaborates with other departments to improve workflow and offer better care to our patients. We so appreciate her; she is a VERY deserving nominee for EOM!"
Congratulations to Nick Borsenik, a Speech Pathologist on our Inpatient Speech Pathology team and one of Valley's January 2023 Heroes! See what her teammate has to say: "I would like to recognize Nick for her incredible commitment to excellence. She has been instrumental in allowing our team to provide a new instrumental swallow study (FEES-Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) option to our patients and is providing our team with invaluable training so we may expand this service. She is a lifelong learner and seeks to stay abreast of the most recent literature to provide evidence-based practice. She is a visionary and a leader in program development and improving current practices. She collaborates with other departments to improve workflow and offer better care to our patients. We so appreciate her; she is a VERY deserving nominee for EOM!"
Erica Jarrett, Admitting Registrar, Outpatient Therapy Services & Amy Kaur, PCA-HCA, Nurse Float Pool, Thank You for BEE-ing Amazing! The BEE Award celebrates and honors the exceptional skills and compassion given by our non-nursing staff every day. It stands for Being Exceptional Everyday and acknowledges the strength behind teamwork--because a DAISY can't survive without a BEE and a BEE can't survive without a DAISY.