The 2018 Above and Beyond Awards honoured nine individuals and teams in five awards categories at a very special awards ceremony on September 26.
The Above and Beyond Awards are designed to recognize Fraser Health employees, teams, physicians and volunteers who go above and beyond to achieve extraordinary results in everything from patient care to health care innovation.
“Each day, I am inspired by the amazing work that happens here at Fraser Health,” said Michael Marchbank, Fraser Health President and Chief Executive Officer. “The Above and Beyond Awards are a great opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate some of our extraordinary colleagues and the outstanding work they do.”
Congratulations to all of the 2018 Above and Beyond Award recipients and all those who were nominated.
Meet the recipients
Fraser Health Hero Awards
Finderson Alves, volunteer, Royal Columbian Hospital, started volunteering after becoming a renal dialysis patient 20 years ago. Today, he volunteers in the hospital’s renal unit, spiritual care and therapeutic touch programs. He is well-known for the positive impact he has on patients and staff alike.
Susan Krautter, team lead, Home Health, Mission Community Health Centre, was a key player in bringing the medication management and assessment pathway to Mission – a model that’s made it easier for home care clients to manage medications.
Innovator Awards
Medicine Unit staff from 5 South and 5 North, Royal Columbian Hospital, worked together in a fun, new way to tackle not so new health care challenges. Outcomes included the launch of structured inter-professional rounds, the roll out of a new delirium protocol, and new processes to self-audit on important quality targets.
As part of South Asian Health Institute's Sehat program, the team has worked closely with gurdwaras, temples, schools and businesses to design new ways to help Fraser Health’s South Asian population eat healthier meals and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases.
Best Collaboration Awards
MDs4Wellness, a physician-led wellness committee, promotes physician wellness and organizes events for doctors in the Fraser Northwest area. Since launching in 2012, membership has ballooned to over 350 physicians.
A partnership between Fraser Health, the Ladner United Church Parish Health Team, Deltassist Family and Community Services Society and Delta Seniors Planning Team has proven that by working together, communities can prepare residents to have meaningful conversations with loved ones about their future as it relates to medical, legal and financial decision-making.
Service Delivery Excellence Awards
Tracey Kirkness, administrative assistant, Chilliwack General Hospital, has spent 27 years delivering consistent quality service to fellow employees and patients, too. She goes out of her way to make things as easy as possible on staff so they can focus on providing the best care to their patients.
Karen Chapman, emergency room nurse, Abbotsford Regional Hospital, takes the time to mentor new team members and has a knack for identifying issues and developing strategies to address them, resulting in lasting positive change.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recently retired clinical nurse specialist Lynne Palmer, Surrey Memorial Hospital, demonstrated an unending drive to improve the birth experiences and outcomes for women and infants over the course of her career. She leaves a lasting legacy of modern, responsive and innovative maternity care at Fraser Health.
Join the celebration
Even if you couldn’t attend the ceremony, you can still join in the celebration. Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing stories of our recipients on our social media channels. You can share their inspiring stories and offer up your own kudos to recipients on social media using the hashtag #ABAwards.
You can also view and share some of the event photos from this year’s ceremony on Twitter @Fraserhealth, with the hashtag #ABAwards, and on Instagram.
Thank you again to everyone who nominated inspiring candidates from across Fraser Health, and to the nine award recipients for their dedication and commitment to making Fraser Health the best in health care.