IOWA winners announced

The top winners of the fall 2002 Improving Our Workplace Awards (IOWA) are:

Team

• Joe Brinson and Mark Minor-Nidey, customer and staff support, Facilities Service Group. Initiated a change in the format for FSG Town Halls, which inform 630 staff members semiannually about units’ activities. By creating a talk show format, complete with a house band, the team was able to communicate news effectively to all attending. Nominated by Dave Jackson.

• The Technology Committee (Brian Corkery, Michael Davis, Patricia Folsom, Diane Hauser, Sandy Heistad, Carol Hunsicker, Jennifer Joslin, Paula Kerezsi, John Little, Laraine Nelson, and Andy Tickham) of the Academic Advising Center. Produced a revised web site that provides information on majors and college life to prospective students and parents. As a result, the staff’s web site, which contains internal electronic forms, also was upgraded. Nominated by Diane Hauser and Jennifer Joslin.

• The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Team (Jody Kurtt, Judy Anderson-Bruner, Rosemary Dalton, Cindy Funk, Darlene Gibson, Kacey Hicklin, Nicki Markovetz, Cindy Neuzil, Linda Petersen, Jodi Poundstone, Diana Seller, and Sue Votroubek). Developed a community-wide program to provide care to victims of sexual assault while reducing cost and duplication of services. Ten specially trained nurses work on call, resulting in more victims seeking care, more reports to law enforcement, and higher patient satisfaction rates. Nominated by Terri Stoner.

Individuals

• Sharon Bammler, nursing services. Used many concepts from research to develop a workplace that increases nurse satisfaction. The result is very low staff turnover, teamwork with doctors, professional opportunities granted to nurses, and high satisfaction rates from patients. Nominated by Sonia Mueller.

• Michael Acarregui, pediatrics. Redesigned the process of maintaining a neonatal database when the department was unable to hire a records technician. The new system results in less paperwork, less data input cost, easier access to reports, and more time for nurse practitioners to continue to provide high levels of service to families. Nominated by Terri Stoner.

• Cynthia Sherman, otolaryngology. Developed and implemented an access protocol that assists underinsured patients in obtaining financial aid, resulting in fewer bad debts for the unit and more aid for patients. Nominated by Todd Patterson.

For additional winners in both categories, visit the WorkLife web site at www.uiowa.edu/hr/worklife and click on “IOWA Fall 2002 Winners.”