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Patrol recognizes employees with award Each quarter, Ambulatory Care Services recognizes outstanding 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 2005 AREA Award recipients are Robert T. Black, O.D., Department of Ophthalmology; Gwendolyn Y. Brown, business operations coordinator, Pediatrics; Monique S. Gourdine, patient registration representative, Pediatric Endocrine;  and Merelle O. Grant, patient care technician,Hollings Cancer Center. Black was nominated by one of his patients who stated: “I have had severe problems with my eyes (recurrent corneal erosion). Dr. Black fitted me for plain contacts which have been keeping my eyes intact. I needed spinal surgery which required removing my contacts. After relaying my problem to Dr. Black, he removed them the day before surgery. I was so apprehensive about removing my contacts as I could just blink and my eye would tear perhaps necessitating another scraping. Dr. Black was aware of my history and gave me his personal cell phone number and asked me to call him two days after my surgery (which was a Sunday morning). He came to Trident Medical Center to insert my contacts. Dr. Black went above and beyond to help me. Thank you Dr. Black.” Brown was nominated by the director of business operations and the director of the Children’s Hospital. Her nominations stated: “The overall collections amount for Peds is up to $14,419.56 in September. This is due, in large part, to your dedication, knowledge and communication with staff, nursing, and physicians. It is making a difference. Thank you. $37,711.60 for the quarter—outstanding. Thank you for representing the Children’s Hospital and educating the community at the Moja Health Event. Also, your help in soliciting more volunteers was really great.” Gourdine was nominated by the clinical care coordinator for her area and the business operations director for  the following, “During a crisis situation when a patient became violent, Monique assisted the nursing staff by quietly paging the physician and talking with the physician about the situation. She also remained overtime to help staff with the follow-up needed to make arrangements to have the patient transported to the emergency room. Her calm supportive presence helped the rest of the team remain calm.”  Also, “nice work with point of service collections, a total of $6,758.51 for the first three months of fiscal year 2006.” Grant was nominated by two of her coworkers. The nominations included the following, “On her own initiative, Merelle put together port access supplies for blood draw in a bag and is keeping these in a drawer ready whenever needed. She maintains an adequate supply and every single thing needed is ready in the patient’s room with labels, request, and supply charge sheet. She’s the best.” Also, “A kind and sharing employee to not only the patients but to staff alike. Always there and willing to go the extra mile. Shares her knowledge and is always helpful beyond her job description. I’m thankful for all I have learned through her.”     Friday, April 14, 2006 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 catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.