Eastern Plumas Health Care’s Lab Manager, Bill Carlson, is 2011 Employee of the Year. It’s an honor he’s proud of, especially since he was chosen by fellow staff members, all 250 of whom were also in the running for this award.

In his multiple nominations, staff members described him as “an excellent example of a dedicated, caring, and highly competent employee, who is committed to excellent customer service,” said Cathy Conant, Director of Human Resources.

Carlson was also touted for his “ability to partner with others,” a vital skill in this small and versatile hospital where, with state and federal funding cuts now the norm, it’s increasingly important to wear multiple hats and devise creative new programs that will help community members and, at the same time, highlight the hospital’s strengths.

For example Carlson, who is personally committed to making lab services available and affordable to a community that is struggling economically, came up with a plan to have the monthly lab specials run all year long. In effect, he created a menu of lab specials from which patients can pick the test (or tests they need), when they need it (see www.ephc.org or call 832.6513 for more information).

Too many times, said Carlson, he’d seen a diabetic patient, for example, who needed her A1C test, but had missed the special by one month. The patient couldn’t afford to wait five months to test, but she didn’t have insurance to cover the regular cost of the tests, either. Now this patient, as well as those who need to test regularly for thyroid, heart, and a myriad of other conditions, can come in whenever they need to test and know they can do so at a price they can afford.

Carlson also works with the billing office to set up the proper coding system, so patients are charged correctly, makes sure the community knows these low cost tests are available, and informs the rest of EPHC’s staff to make sure they’re knowledgeable and can help patients who come in to the hospital for the tests.

He takes a comprehensive view of his job, and it pays off for everyone. He comes to EPHC with a wealth of lab experience—he’s been in the field since 1972 and has worked as a clinical lab scientist since 1985. In addition, he has experience in a wide variety of settings—from hospitals, doctor’s offices and clinics, to reference labs (where hospitals send tests they don’t do in house).

Carlson said what took him from the Bakersfield area to the Sierras was a recruiter’s phone call. The recruiter asked if he’d be interested in working in the mountains. Carlson came for a visit, “liked it, and stayed . . . Three things in life are important,” he said, “faith in God, a great spouse, and a family atmosphere at work. Here, I have all three.”

It’s not surprising, given his character, that Carlson is humble about his leadership role at EPHC. He updated procedure manuals to the point where quality auditors who usually stay for days left impressed with EPHC’s lab quality and documentation after only a few hours. First and foremost, however, he’s committed to creating “affordable lab choices,” thereby “opening the lab to the community.”

Carlson is joined at EPHC’s lab by his wife, Lorie, a medical lab scientist. Finally, he’s looking forward to a perk that comes with the Employee of the Year nod—the best parking space in the lot for all of 2011!