Mark Chastang posed for a photo with, from left, Sandra Gardam, Jane Lawrence and Katie Roberts who were recognized for perfect attendance in 2009.
Katie Roberts figures she hasn’t missed a scheduled day of work in about 14 years.
The registered nurse in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department at The University of Toledo Medical Center was one of 307 employees invited to UTMC’s Annual Perfect Attendance Luncheon, held March 11 at the Toledo Hilton.
An impromptu survey gleaned that Roberts’ streak was the longest in a roomful of colleagues with stellar attendance records.
“I’m a part-timer,” Roberts said when asked how she has worked without an unscheduled absence for nearly half of her 29 years at UTMC. “I have to give kudos to you guys who are full-timers with no call-ins. That’s incredible.”
Hattie King in Food and Nutrition Services has never called in sick during her nine years at UT Medical Center.
The luncheon, in its sixth year, celebrates employees who, with the exception of vacation time, worked every day they were scheduled throughout 2009. Guests were treated to a free lunch, a gift, door prizes and accolades from Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, Health Science Campus provost, executive vice president for health affairs and College of Medicine dean; Mark Chastang, vice president and UT Medical Center executive director; and Val King, hospital administrative assistant.
Gold said part of UT’s mission is to offer hope to its next generation of students, push the boundaries of science and research, and facilitate help and healing for those who receive medical care.
“This is a remarkable group,” he said. “By being a part of it, you’re saying you understand the vision of this university to be a community leader. You uplift those we serve, each other and the entire northwest Ohio community.”
Chastang recounted several accomplishments from 2009, noting that they wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of those honored at the banquet.
“We thank you for your commitment to our organization, we celebrate your commitment to healing, because we are an organization of healing, and we salute your commitment to our mission of improving the human condition,” he said.
Roberts was in good company at her table. Colleague Sandra Gardam, a registered nurse in Cardiac Rehab, hasn’t missed a scheduled day in 10 years, and Jane Lawrence, secretary in the Cardiac Rehab and Radiology departments, estimates she’s had perfect attendance since 2003.
The number of employees achieving annual perfect attendance at UTMC continues to rise. Last year, 303 employees were honored, and 229 were recognized in 2007.
Perfect attendance contributes to success
Chastang and King emphasized that employees honored for their perfect attendance played key roles in UT Medical Center’s 2009 accomplishments, including:
• Receiving a second consecutive Silver Medal of Honor from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for increasing the number of organs available for transplant
Opening of the new Heart and Vascular Center.
• Increasing the numbers of inpatient visits (12,991, up 4.4 percent from last year), clinic visits (194,788, a 5.4 percent increase), Emergency Department visits (31,135, up 4.2 percent) and total surgeries (10,132, an increase of 2.3 percent).
• Performing 405 coronary interventions (angioplasties and stents), including 60 on patients in the midst of heart attacks
• Performing 1,571 inpatient and 443 outpatient dialysis treatments.
