Local Healthcare Leaders Recognized for Performance Excellence

2009 Awards winners: Women & Children's Unit Based Council, Herman Vellinga, Lynda DeBuck, and absent from photo Dr. Kate Bailey

CHATHAM-KENT -- The most prestigious honour that a healthcare professional can earn at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, is a Tri-Board Award for Excellence. Facilitated by CKHA’s Great People Great Place Committee, this annual Awards program honours staff, physicians and volunteers who exemplify performance excellence within and beyond the healthcare environment.

Awards were presented during CKHA’s Annual Recognition ceremony on Friday night at Club Lentinas.

Tri-Board Awards were presented to:

Volunteer recipient: Herman Vellinga, Rehab/Complex Continuing Care/Chronic Disease Management For the past 5 years, Herman has inspired courage and hope in survivors of stroke, as he shares his personal story of recovery. Leading with compassion and humour, Herman has positively impacted hundreds of people during their after-stroke stages of disappointment, depression, anger and acceptance.

Team recipient: Unit Base Council, Women & Children’s Health This team is dedicated to promoting patient and family centred care initiatives, teamwork and problem solving to support positive experiences for patients, families and staff. The team is comprised of Kristy Simpson, Anne Marie Embury, Jackie Lachine, Janet Vince, Maggie Horton, Sally Jenkins, Natalie Hutson, Jill Cousins and Mary Sawyers.

Employee recipient: Lynda DeBuck, Clinical Manager, Complex Continuing Care/Chronic Disease Management As a long service employee, Lynda has embraced roles with increased responsibilities. She shows leadership and commitment to listening, learning, and building relationships to foster collaboration and engage patients, family, and staff.

Physician recipient: Dr. Kate Bailey, Family Physician Dr. Bailey is recognized by her peers as a mentor, patient advocate, and teacher of medical students and Nurse Practitioners from across Ontario. She cares for patients in her practice; in the Emergency Department; and unattached patients as a Hospitalist; and teaches courses at the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Medicine.

This year’s recipients were selected by a panel (representing staff, past honourees and the Tri-Board) from 17 peer nominations. Applicants are judged on their promotion of patient and family centred care, commitment to CKHA’s mission, vision and values, and leadership in improving quality and performance.

Awards were presented by Board Chairpersons, Jennifer Wilson, Marjorie Fair and Leah McArthur. Recipients were presented with a crystal keepsake award, an educational bursary, and a copy of a video in which they were featured.

This year also saw the presentation of the first President’s Award for Excellence. To be eligible to receive this honour, applicants must have a minimum of five years experience as a Manager, Director or Vice-President responsible for resource management, quality and planning, demonstrating leadership and clinical excellence.

President’s Award recipient: Nancy Snobelen, Program Director Rehab/Complex Continuing Care/Chronic Disease Management. Since 1984, Nancy has led an expanded portfolio, always showing leadership in education, research, patient engagement, resource management, innovation, quality and safety. She received a crystal award and a limited edition photograph, both donated by President and CEO, Ken Tremblay.

Tremblay said, "These professionals are the best of the best… They set the bar high and we aspire to their examples! They are the heart and soul of this great organization."

"There are more than 1200 reasons to choose Chatham-Kent Health Alliance," he added, "and these individuals are among them!"