Intercom

Volume2/1981_May11INTERCOM Inpatient Admitting's Elaine Anderson Named May Employee of the Month The Inpatient Admitting staff and all who know Elaine Anderson, the Medical Center Employee of the Month for May, rave about her ability to work with people and say that each patient's contact with her is an experience in genuine caring and support. They'd be astounded to find out that when she first came to the Medical Center, she told her supervisor she preferred working alone in the back room with the machines! But Elaine confesses, "When I began working with the doctors and nurses and relating to patients, I soon discovered how much I loved the relationship. That's when my work really became exciting." Elaine's job is exciting in other ways too - when beds aren't immediately available, for example, or when the waiting room is packed with incoming patients. "It's an ominous challenge at times," she admits, " but I love to solve the problems and participate in the quick decisions we often must make." Elaine's co-workers agree that she has no trouble tackling these responsibilities. But what impresses both staff and patients most is her kind and warm manner with everyone. "Elaine is a real lady in all situations," says receptionist Ruth McCabe. "We have to deal with patients on both a professional and personal level," says Elaine, "putting them at ease and showing them that we care, while at the same time gathering accurate information." Speaking highly of Elaine, Larry K. Williams, manager of Inpatient Admitting/ Billing says, "Through Elaine's effort and guidance, the reputation of the Admitting Office has improved tremendously with the medical and nursing staffs as well as with other hospital departments we work with. She always goes out of her way to do the little extras for patients and her own staff." Before taking a six-year leave of absence in 1972 to care for her family, Elaine worked for two years stamping charge cards, making bed assignments and billing Medicare. In 1978 she returned, working from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on the patient census, then as night supervisor and later as day supervisor, remarkably juggling both her career and role of mother. She now has nine children ranging in age from 1 to 18. A native of Salt Lake City, Elaine likes to run and she walks to work each day from her home on the avenues. Naturally accommodating, Elaine has rarely turned down a patient request. However, there was one she had to refuse. "Before being admitted to the hospital, this 'gentleman' had been told he had cancer and was given permission to drink up while he could," Elaine remembers. "He came in rather drunk and decided he wanted to marry me! It was a difficult interview." Elaine Anderson University Hospital salutes its 1,600 employees on the occasion of National Hospital Week, May 10-16. Jerry L. Smith Administrator Sneak Preview News reporters and photographers recently attended a special "sneak ' preview" tour of the new hospital. Led by Assistant Administrator II. Don Moyer, the tour of the new hospital gave local media a look at the ultramodern emergency room, operating suites, chapel and the building's unique seismic features. Farewell Bess To say "goodbye" and "thanks" to Bess Jacob after 14 years of dedicated service, Eccles Health Sciences Library co-workers dropped golf balls on her desk along with a commemorative cut-out bridge hand from the newspaper. Executive secretary of the library, Bess started in 1967. "Her absolute loyalty to the library is what we have appreciated the most," says Director Priscilla Mayden. "Besides being a very competent manager of the business end of the library, she's been a real friend to the lower campus students who have worked here." Bess's loyalty even extended to caring for the numerous plants in the building, including the 19 floor plants. She has faithfully nurtured them for over a decade. Scholarship Newborn intensive care nurse Kathy Schmitz has been awarded a $500 scholarship from the Parent- to- Parent organization. Kathy, who has been a staff, charge and transport nurse in the unit, is a senior nursing student in the baccalaureate program in the College of Nursing. She plans to enter the neonatal nurse practitioner program and later pursue a master's degree in perinatology. Softball The Med Center softball league is a "big hit" already. Twelve teams are vying for the championship during play on the VA Medical Center diamond. First week scores: Pharmacy I 26, Central Processing 0; Nutrition Care Service won by forfeit over Outpatient labs; Pediatric Housestaff 12, O.R. 6; Surgery 24, Engineering 7; Medical Records 16, Radiology "Rowdies" 15 (in 8 innings); and Pharmacy "Champion Losers" 10, Radiology "Runnin' Rays" 9. Med Center mixer The next Med Center mixer will feature a new location, drastically reduced prices and no cover charge! The party is tentatively slated for the Ft. Douglas Officer's Club Thursday, June 4. Thanks to Dr. Jim McNamara, social work director (Col. McNamara to his Ft. Douglas cronies) for use of the club and to the Social Activities Committee for agreeing to absorb the cost of a disc jockey and "munchies." The 1981 Utah Open will be a benefit tournament for University Hospital. The golf tourney, scheduled August 11-15 at Willow Creek Country Club, will provide additional needed funding for programs ranging from the Intermountain Burn Unit to the Intermountain Spinal Cord Injury Center. Sponsorship of Utah's premier golf event by the hospital's Volunteer Auxiliary and other groups will replace the auxiliary's smaller golf tourney of past years. Paul McGinn of the Utah Open committee and Milt Rosen, auxiliary golf chairman, discuss plans for the open