ICARE AWARD RECOGNITION
ICARE Award Recognition
No organization can succeed without values to match its mission. Our mission, as the Department of Veterans Affairs, is to care for those “who shall have borne the battle” and for their families and survivors. Our core values focus our minds on our mission of caring and thereby guide our actions toward service to others.
These values — Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence — define our culture and strengthen our dedication to those we serve. They provide a baseline for the standards of behavior expected of all VA employees. They remind us and others that “I CARE”:
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I would like to nominate Dr. Grant Strong for the ICARE award. Since the retirement of Dr. Carrell, Dr. Strong has been taking on extra work to ensure the Veterans get the care needed. PACT 7 has been able to depend on his constant help throughout this process. I have neverheard him say a negative or rude comment to me or my co-workers when he is called upon to help. Anytime you see Dr. Strong, he greets you with a smile and says, "Hello". He has put so much time and effort into his job and never asks for anything in return. Dr. Strong is a kind and gentle soul who truly cares for his patients' well-being. Please consider him for the ICARE award as he very much deserves to be thanked for all that he does. -Recommended by Erica Quimby, LPN |
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Wendy Skurka and Teresa James exemplify the highest quality of care and a desire for continuous improvement within Specialty Care. Recognizing the impact of the Podiatrist being on extended leave for eight weeks, these two Specialty Care employees approached me with a plan to utilize the PAVE Clinic during his extended leave. Due to Wendy's certification as a foot care specialist, the PAVE Clinic was able to be reactivated and they provided care to 220 Veterans during the eight week period. In addition, Teresa James, LPN pursued nursing excellence by seeking certification as a foot care specialist as well. She received her certification and utilizes the knowledge gained in her interactions with Veterans during this time and in her continued daily care of Veterans within the Podiatry Clinic. -Recom mended by Kimberly Sawyer, RN |
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Kenneth Turner continuously displays the value of Advocacy through his interactions with staff and Veterans. On 12/ 23/16, he was contacted by the National Caregiver Support Line to help a Veteran in need of food. Even though he had no association with the program, Mr. Turner took initiative to contact community agencies that could assist the Veteran with transportation to receive the food. He then traveled to Temporary Emergency Services to pick up the food then deliver it to the Veteran's home himself to ensure the Veteran had food for the Christmas holiday.On another occasion, he discovered a Veteran having difficulty finding housing. Even though the Veteran was not in his program, he called several housing complexes until he found an open apartment that the Veteran could submit an application and move on the same day. In both instances, Mr. Turner went above and beyond his call of duty through assisting Veterans outside of his program and by showing that he truly is an advocate for all Veterans. -Recommended by Natalie Hood, LICSW, MSSW |
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It is with great pride that I send you this letter to inform you of what a great team of employees we have in the Community Living Center. For the past several years, a young Marine on Freedom Hall has had the opportunity to attend the Marine Corp Ball which is held in November. Due to scheduling issues, the attendants that had been assigned were unable to assist. I would like to recognize Ms. Felecia Hall, Recreation Therapist, and Ms. Dorothy Robinson, Restorative Care, for stepping up just a few days before the big event and volunteering for the assignment. They escorted this gentlema n and his wife to the Ball and provided care as needed. Ms. Hall and Ms. Robinson represented the utmost value of Respect to this Veteran and his wife. and truly went above and beyond. |
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Ms. Mattie Ingram was recognized by the Nurse Manager on Freedom Hall for her quick response during a medical emergency on the unit. In November 2016, Ms. Ingram discovered a resident unresponsive in his room and immediately reported to the nursing staff. Her quick response resulted in the resident receiving prompt attention and therefore making a full recovery without requiring transfer to an acute care setting. It has not gone unnoticed by the unit's Nurse Manager, that Ms. Ingram is very attentive to the Veterans she serves. She also reported another instance where Ms. Ingram noticed a Veteran choking on his food. She quickly reported it to the staff in the area where the Veteran then received the assistance needed. Ms. Ingram is a dedicated employee and is a "hero" in many eyes. A hero who deserves the highest recognition. -Recommended by Aretha Foster |
