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Ambulatory Care recognizes AREA award winners Each quarter, Ambulatory Care Services recognizes selected employees who demonstrate the organization’s values of Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Adaptability (AREA).  Staff members who have received an “Applause for Caring” card during the quarter are automatically eligible for the AREA Award.  Fourth quarter AREA Award recipients are: Mark Mahoney, D.O., Family Medicine; Delores Speights-Solomon, patient representative,  Rutledge Tower; Ashley Webb, patient representative, Pediatric Orthopaedics and Neurology; and Brenda Whaley, Women’s Services, McClennan-Banks Mahoney was nominated by a social worker. He was recognized for his compassion and concern for his patients. On one occasion he even walked from Family Medicine (Calhoun Street) to the emergency room to make certain a patient could be helped with getting her medications. “This was an act of kindness!” Speights-Spolomon was nominated by five of her patients. Their comments included: “As a newly diagnosed cancer patient, I was worried and upset.  She showed compassion.  She is an outstanding example of excellent customer service. She’s been cheerful and helpful on all my visits to MUSC.” “She is always so sweet and personable during check-in. She immediately made me feel at ease at a scary time.” Webb was nominated by one of her patients as well as the clinical coordinator in her area. In addition to her courteous and professional behavior with all her customers, Webb was also nominated for the way she steps in during a difficult situation. One day during clinic a visibly distraught mother arrived holding her 2-year-old crying child in her arms. “Ashley was very calm and reassuring to her as she registered the child. The mother explained she had brought X-rays from the referring physician and then realized she had left them in her car, which was on some street with her mom in it waiting for the police, since they had been in an accident on their way to the appointment.  Ashley immediately offered to look for the car, check on mom, and retrieve the films, which she did. Ashley is an excellent example of Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Adaptability.” Whaley was nominated by her nurse manager for the consistent way she provides care and concern for both her patient population and health care team members. Among other qualities, Whaley is noted to have been “recognized as the most helpful nurse to medical students each rotation since the recognition program began. She is wonderful with patients, providing calm and structure for a medical visit to women whose lives may be chaotic and unfocused. Motivated by love and concern, Brenda is not afraid to tell someone something they may need to know for their own good. Whether it is a patient, student, resident, attending, coworker or even her own manager, Brenda has a way of helping to make you better.  When Brenda is on vacation or off for the day, one is aware that there is a special energy missing. In my opinion, and that of many others, there is no one in this institution who exemplifies more the qualities of Adaptability, Respect, Excellence, and Accountability.” The Ambulatory Care Prize Patrol surprised each of these individuals in his/her practice setting. Each recipient received an AREA Award badge holder, a framed certificate, a “Be My Guest” dining card in the amount of $50 and a cake to share with his/her coworkers.    Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.