227 staff celebrate service milestones

A special recognition event was held on February 27th to celebrate services milestones reached by 227 staff, physicians and Auxilians in 2013.

Excerpt of speech from Mike Nader, Chief Operating Officer . . .

This annual recognition event is unique within VCH, and we intend to keep it that way. As part of our commitment to People First, we believe it’s important to take the time to recognize our most seasoned and experienced staff, physicians and Auxilians at a special evening event, and we are delighted to continue the tradition this year.

They are like Richmond’s version of the Oscars which, as you may know are coming up this weekend. Except ours are much more important, at least to us they are.

Participating in our annual Service Recognition event is one of my very favorite perks of my position. It is such an honour to be up here with Dr. Brenda Wagner to recognize your dedication and many contributions to our patients, clients and residents, to Vancouver Coastal Health, the community we serve and the health care system of this province.

In 2013, 227 staff, physicians and Auxilians – the people in this auditorium and a few more that couldn’t make it – celebrated service milestones.

I want to share some very impressive Service Anniversary numbers with you . . .

• Last year in Richmond, a total of 227 people reached a service milestone of 10, 15, 20 all the way up to 40 years!. Of those , 186 are staff; 26 are physicians and 15 are Auxilians.
• All together, those 227 people contributed 3, 610 years of service to VCH and its predecessors. That works out to roughly 1,317,650 days – give or take a few thousand for vacations. 227 people provided more than a million days of service.
• The value of a million dollars isn’t what it used to be but the value of that same number of years of service to the health of this community is truly priceless.

As impressive as these numbers are, even number people like me have to admit that the many contributions and achievements behind these numbers is even more impressive!

Those of you who are celebrating a service milestone have delivered babies, set fractured bones, saved lives, performed surgery, taught classes, preceptor students and new employees, given flu shots, developed systems, manage payrolls, volunteered at the gift and thrift shops, and completed the thousands of other tasks that go into providing  quality care to the thousands of patients, clients and residents each year that depend on your skill, experience, care and compassion.

 It is thanks to your hard work and dedication that we are always moving forward with the VCH True North goals to promote better health for our communities, innovate for sustainability, develop the best workforce, and provide the best care.

 On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Senior Executive Team of Vancouver Coastal Health, as well as the Senior Leadership Team of VCH-Richmond, I thank each of you for your ongoing commitment and many contributions to Vancouver Coastal Health.