SoutheastHEALTH Celebrates Employee Milestones

SoutheastHEALTH celebrated its 48th annual STAR (Southeast Talent And Recognition) Employee Service Awards Banquet recently at Ray’s Plaza Conference Center in Cape. Southeast honored 323 employees for five-year increments of service ranging from five to 45 years. Combined, these dedicated employees have provided an outstanding 4,405 years of compassionate and skilled service to patients and the organization.

SoutheastHEALTH President and CEO Ken Bateman welcomed guests and shared highlights of the organization over the past year. These include:

• Adding more than 20 physicians across the system in five specialties

• Building a new Emergency Department and Behavioral Health Unit at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County

Marking 30 years of service to SoutheastHealth are, front row: Sally Owen, Cathy Goodman, Cindy Bond, Teri Schoen and Nadine Smith. Back row: Jill Hunt, Kelley Brown, Hope Botwinski, Mike Holtzclaw, Pat Edwards, Patti Mayberry, Mark Hahs, Susan Stroder and Susan Allison. Not pictured: Cynthia Kalinski, Robin Lacy, Ellen Keeler, Denise Dunnavant, Jane Heise, Terry Simpkins, Carolyn Bird, Clarissa Rodgers, Mary Wozniak, Deanna Flaherty, John Simminger, Randy Rhymer, Shawn Wente, Ricky Lane and Purita Creutz.

• Working on a plan to expand our Behavioral Health services in Cape with a joint venture

• Constructing a new Cardiac Pavilion at Southeast Hospital

• Rolling out a new IT platform later this year that further SoutheastHEALTH’s mission of practicing best medicine

• Partnering with Washington University’s Cardiothoracic Surgery Division and Pathology Division and

Seven SoutheastHEALTH employees reached the 35-year mark. Shown here, front row: Win Garland, Teressa Johnson and back row: Diane Holzum, Constance Reed and Karen Scherer. Not pictured are Cynthia Beel and Dean Rose.

• Introducing a narrow network health plan designed to help employers lower their cost of healthcare. Southeast is now working with 16 employers that have more than 6,500 employees and 15,000 covered lives.

Bateman emphasized that “there is not a single department or person in our organization who hasn’t contributed to making these initiatives a reality.

“When we are stronger this community gets stronger,” Bateman said.

“Just as the generations that came before us made SoutheastHEALTH a regional healthcare powerhouse we want to do the same for the generations that come after us. Our forward thinking strategy is designed to make us strong for the future.”

Six SoutheastHEALTH employees reached 40 and 45-year milestones. Shown in the front row: Linda Rodgers (45 years) and Gaila Adams (40 years) and back row: Judy Pedigo and Sarah Patzwitz, both 40-year employees. Not pictured is Carol Lehmann, a 45-year staff member.