Eastern Plumas Health Care\u2019s Lab Manager, Bill Carlson, is 2011 Employee of the Year. It\u2019s an honor he\u2019s proud of, especially since he was chosen by fellow staff members, all 250 of whom were also in the running for this award.<\/p>\n
In his multiple nominations, staff members described him as \u201can excellent example of a dedicated, caring, and highly competent employee, who is committed to excellent customer service,\u201d said Cathy Conant, Director of Human Resources.<\/p>\n
Carlson was also touted for his \u201cability to partner with others,\u201d a vital skill in this small and versatile hospital where, with state and federal funding cuts now the norm, it\u2019s increasingly important to wear multiple hats and devise creative new programs that will help community members and, at the same time, highlight the hospital\u2019s strengths.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
Too many times, said Carlson, he\u2019d seen a diabetic patient, for example, who needed her A1C test, but had missed the special by one month. The patient couldn\u2019t afford to wait five months to test, but she didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s staff to make sure they\u2019re knowledgeable and can help patients who come in to the hospital for the tests. <\/p>\n
He takes a comprehensive view of his job, and it pays off for everyone. He comes to EPHC with a wealth of lab experience\u2014he\u2019s 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\u2014from hospitals, doctor\u2019s offices and clinics, to reference labs (where hospitals send tests they don\u2019t do in house).<\/p>\n
Carlson said what took him from the Bakersfield area to the Sierras was a recruiter\u2019s phone call. The recruiter asked if he\u2019d be interested in working in the mountains. Carlson came for a visit, \u201cliked it, and stayed . . . Three things in life are important,\u201d he said, \u201cfaith in God, a great spouse, and a family atmosphere at work. Here, I have all three.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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\u2019s lab quality and documentation after only a few hours. First and foremost, however, he\u2019s committed to creating \u201caffordable lab choices,\u201d thereby \u201copening the lab to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carlson is joined at EPHC\u2019s lab by his wife, Lorie, a medical lab scientist. Finally, he\u2019s looking forward to a perk that comes with the Employee of the Year nod\u2014the best parking space in the lot for all of 2011! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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