Living Our Values Award Winners

Michael Haenisch

Lab Services, Monroe

"Friday boasted a record number of lab tests with multiple intense, and time-consuming labs needing to be done in a short time frame. Mike was outstanding and jumped in to help with getting out results for other benches. Mike's calm demeanor and positive personality in the face of an intense workload is fantastic!"

Rebecca Managan, ARNP, CNM

Midwifery Care

"When I became pregnant with my first child as an older mama, I spent months preparing for a hoped-for natural birth.

My water broke, and after 15 hours of unmedicated labor at a nearby birth center, my midwife transferred me to Evergreen because my child was still high in my body, in a difficult position, and my contractions had stalled.

The on-staff midwife, Becky, took over our care. She was coming from back-to-back deliveries, but from the moment she entered our room, she was cheerful, patient, and compassionate.

She spoke with my midwife and doula and listened respectfully. As my and the baby's vitals were excellent, she honored my choice to give our baby more time to figure things out; she also expertly helped me change position frequently to get him better positioned. Knowing I wanted to keep epidural and Pitocin doses low, she offered a catheter to get more information to figure out exactly how strong my contractions were, how much Pitocin increase I would need to move baby, and whether my baby would tolerate it. She kept giving us options and information.

Thanks to Becky's support, my recovery has been painless. Breastfeeding has been going fantastically. I can look back at my birth and feel peace, empowerment, and an ultimate pride in my body and my baby.

Becky's patience, compassion, competence, and willingness to honor our wishes for a vaginal birth based on my actual circumstances has forever made a difference for us, and we will never forget her kindness or how she helped our son enter this world in the gentlest way possible."

Savannah Groeneweg, CNA

Acute Care, Monroe

"Savannah answers call lights and does not find the person who is assigned to this particular patient but goes into the room and handles within her capacity. She is knowledgeable, always participates in total outlook for the team, has never-ending compassion for staff as well as the patients. I know I am (as well as staff and patients) in good hands when I see Savannah on duty."

Danielle Hollingsworth, RN

Acute Care, Monroe

"Thank you so much for taking a report on a patient that wasn't yours, and you weren't even the RSC. You knew the patient needed to come over to PCU asap as the ED had an incoming post-CPR patient and you took report without hesitation. I appreciate you so much!"

Ciara Flores and Rosemarie Ly, PharmD, BCPS

Pharmacy

"About one year ago, the inpatient pharmacy team embarked on a massive inventory management process improvement project (Logistics) to efficiently track inventory, help control drug costs, reduce outdates and stockouts, ensure formulary controls, and add scanning technology to support our patient safety priorities. Pharmacist and Pyxis Administrator, Rosemarie, and Technician Lead, Ciara, were the extraordinary driving force behind the success of this project. Rosemarie and Ciara brought remarkable vision, tenacity and persistence to the design of the Logistics implementation.

"The implementation that followed highlighted their mentoring, communication and leadership skills, culminating in go-live on June 25th. The entire pharmacy team is so grateful to Rosemarie and Ciara. We recognize that their work is very much "behind the scenes" and is not visible to the organization. However, these two individuals deserve this nomination and wide recognition for their contributions, as they truly live our values!”

Tanya Lopez Gutierrez, MA-C, NCCT

Urgent Care, Monroe

Tanya is well-known for her positive leadership and collaboration with stakeholders between the Urgent Cares and local Monroe hospital.

"I have been working in the Sky Valley Pavillion storage cleaning things up, and I had several emails with Tanya. Instead of another email, she walked down (knowing I was in the building) and we solved some problems and communicated wonderfully in person. Just a thank you for that 'real person' element!"

Kofi Assan, MA-C

Urgent Care, Redmond Bella Bottega

"I have witnessed Kofi countless times go above and beyond for the care of his patients. He treats them compassionately, taking a holistic approach of the patient's mind, body and spirit. This particular time I witnessed him provide care for one of our own that was in a crisis. Kofi is in an administrative role and leaders often get the reputation as being heartless, but this is so far from Kofi's approach. He sat with this individual in crisis, listened to them and helped provide the resources needed to help them. He went above and beyond to provide help and aid for this individual and he would do this for anyone. His team reflects his selfless and compassionate leadership with the care they provide daily to their patients. His positive attitude about life is infectious and attracts others to want to be around him. He would never want recognition, but I feel like I need to share how wonderful of a person he is and how much of an impact he has on this EvergreenHealth community."

Rachel Ruiz

Epic Operations

"Rachel has been a miracle worker since "day one" of joining EvergreenHealth. She has solved SO MANY Epic system barriers with patience, kindness, expertise and most of all humor! She is patient and kind as she works with stakeholders to identify issues and her vast knowledge of the Epic system has been so valuable as she is able to tie together technical limitations and operational needs. I feel like virtually every project or committee I've been a part of has had remarkable outcomes directly linked to Rachel's hard work, excellence, compassion and collaboration. She truly lives our values every day, and is a remarkable teammate!"

Terra Katzbach

Educational Services

"Terra Katzbach is nominated for her dedication, expertise, and compassionate leadership. She exemplifies respect, excellence, collaboration, and accountability, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Terra's genuine care, collaborative spirit, and innovative approach have significantly enhanced her team's well-being and success. Her ability to hold her team accountable with grace and understanding further highlights her exceptional leadership. Terra's profound impact on her team and the organization exemplifies the essence of Living Our Values."

Viva Grooms

Patient Access

"Viva is nominated for the Living Our Values award recognizing her commitment to Compassion, Respect, Excellence, Collaboration, and Accountability. She assists patients with empathy, delivers accurate information, collaborates effectively, and takes ownership of her responsibilities. Viva's professionalism and dedication to her role foster trust and comfort, enhancing our collective ability to meet community needs."

Infectious Disease Team, Hospitalists, 5 Silver, Infusion Care and Food & Nutrition Services

"Thank you and your team at EvergreenHealth for the exceptional care, compassion, and follow-up during my stay. After being admitted to the ER with intense pain, I was diagnosed with diverticulitis and liver abscesses. The medical team's expertise, kindness, and transparent communication were invaluable. The doctors, nursing staff, infusion team, and even the food service provided remarkable support. Your team saved my life and made a challenging time manageable with their dedication and care."

Connie Mak

Environmental Services

"Connie Mak from Environmental Services is always working hard, smiling, and helpful. Her impressive work ethic and quality are admirable. With nearly 18 years here, she ensures tasks are done right and follows up diligently. Connie is a flexible, valuable staff member, training and setting an example for colleagues, and enhancing our image for patients and visitors."