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Ambulatory Care Services Quarterly AREA Award winners recognized  Each quarter, Ambulatory Care Services (ACS) recognizes outstanding employees who demonstrate the organization’s values of accountability, respect, excellence and adaptability (AREA).      Staff members who received an Applause for Caring card or were applauded on the Patient Satisfaction Survey during the quarter are automatically eligible for the AREA Award.     Second-quarter 2004 AREA Award recipients are: Lance H. Johnson, information resource coordinator, Ambulatory Care; Ross B. Pollack, M.D., Dermatology; and Robert P. Turner, M.D., Pediatric Neurology.   Johnson was nominated by four employees.  Some of the comments from the nominations included:  “He always has a positive attitude and a willingness to assist staff. He has faced many difficult moves/reorganizations of clinics and is recognized by staff for his responsiveness and calm approach to stressful situations.” Another employee said, “He has an amazing dedication and commitment to staff of ambulatory care. He consistently devotes 100 percent. He is kind, patient, supportive, responsive and calm in the most difficult circumstances, staying until the job is complete. We could not do our jobs without him.” Turner was nominated by four patients. Excerpts from his nominations include: “We actually enjoy coming to see Dr. Turner because of his professional and friendly bedside manner. His commitment to excellence is the standard to which his students and understudies are called as well, and it shows. He has always treated us like people first, then as patients, always acknowledging my child as a human being, not a task to be completed. I feel that I could tell him anything or suggest anything and that my thoughts and opinions are valued as a mother who wants the best for her child. The drive is long and requires much planning, with four  children. It definitely affects our lives, but Dr. Turner is worth the inconvenience.” Another patient wrote, “We feel that Dr. Turner and his nurse have given our daughter the best treatment for her condition with caring and professionalism. They go above and beyond what is necessary for her to receive the very best care. We would highly recommend these people to anyone who is in search of high-quality health care.” Pollack was nominated by a patient who wrote about the outstanding care delivered by Pollack and other staff members in the dermatology clinic.  The patient described how Pollack delivered holistic patient care, taking the time to address the personal concerns she was experiencing as well as her medical concerns.  The patient concluded her letter by stating, “Thanks for allowing me a platform to express my gratitude and appreciation for the staff on the 10th floor of the Rutledge Tower’s Dermatology Department. I’ll never forget what they have done for me for as long as I am on this earth. That staff is the epitome of what the Applause Award is and what the Ambulatory Care Services C.A.R.E.S. Pro-gram stands for.”  The Ambulatory Care Prize Patrol surprised each of these individuals in his  practice setting. Each recipient received an AREA Award lapel pin, a framed certificate, an AREA Award badge holder, a $50 Be My Guest dining card, and a cake to share with his/her coworkers.   Friday, Sept. 10, 2004 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.