4th Quarter 2000 National and Division Heroes

National Heroes

RN Category: James Higgins - Dogwood Division, Greensboro (GRE) Office, Greensboro, NC
LPN Category: Charles Costello - Snapdragons Division, Burlington (BUR) Office, Burlington, NJ
HHA Category: Iris Rodriquez - Cattails Division, PCA North (PCA) Office, Philadelphia, PA

Division Heroes

* denotesNational Hero of the Quarter

James Higgins was recently assigned to work with a 19-year-old client with Duchene syndrome who was released from the hospital with a new trach and vent. According to Staff Supervisor Angie Roberson, "The client was very unstable." As if that wasn't enough of a challenge, the equipment company failed to deliver an adequate supply of circuits for the vent. Angie explained, "James called many places (to obtain what was needed but) to no avail. Finally, he went on his own time and found some circuits." In addition, the client's family admitted, "Our house looked like an accident waiting to happen. Within a few days, James had our home livable again." Attesting to James' nursing skills, Angie said, "It didn't take long for James to get (his client) in a more stable condition and in a situation where he was making progress." The family adds, "He handled emergency situations calmly, which always kept (the client) calm and not panicky. He knows his job and does it well."

Charles "Chuck" Costello, LPN, has been faced with challenges of his own over the past two years during which his client has required many hospitalizations. Nursing Supervisor Ellen Wiest explained that Chuck faithfully traveled to Philadelphia to cover each of his shifts during that time. Because his client's condition had been so critical most of that time, the hospital staff did not know the client. However, Ellen says, "Chuck did. He interceded so often and literally was responsible for saving the client's life many times." Dedicated to being able to meet his client's changing needs, Chuck undertook a lengthy trach/vent training program at the hospital and subsequently fulfilled all of Bayada's competency requirements. Ellen commented, "He excelled in all aspects of care and even acted as troubleshooter and mechanical genius when needed." Having originally been considered assigned to one of the office's "easy" cases, Chuck has proven to the office staff and his client that he can successfully rise to a challenge.

Iris Rodriguez has been providing dependable, sensitive, quality service over the nearly 20 years she has been with Bayada, according to Director David Roarty. He added, "Because she is bilingual, she has assisted supervisors in translating for many Spanish speaking clients over the years." Senior Staff Supervisor Beth Jemison was quick to point out that Iris is not just someone who quietly goes about her work, merely doing what is expected. Beth says, "Iris has changed the lives of many clients. When Iris started on (one case in particular), the house was pest-ridden and the client was bed-bound." Iris' hard work and resourcefulness has resulted in a "home that is now much less pest-ridden and the consumer is able to ambulate on the second floor." The client agrees that Iris takes very good care of him, and says she even calls him at home on the days she is not scheduled. In his book, "She's the best!"