2019 Employee Recognition Awards - Health
GOLD
Brenda Brenner, Health Services Agency
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Brenda is the Emergency Medical Services Program Lead and a Senior Health Services Manager. In this role, Brenda has committed herself personally and professionally to humbly and proudly serve every member of our county.
She led the way this year with coordinating care and resources to support the most vulnerable populations in our community during the unprecedented PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs. Additionally, Brenda worked throughout the year to implement a patient centered countywide ambulance contract.
Another example of Brenda’s tireless leadership and commitment to service was in her extraordinary support during the Kinkade Fire. Brenda played a leadership role in navigating the delivery of ambulance and health care resources to support Sonoma County .
SILVER
Members of the
Occupational Therapy Team, including:
Left to right:
Shannon Holmes, Susan Fisher
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This small two-person team has changed the paradigm around therapeutic services that allow people to remain in independent living environments while improving their basic life functions and social skills. It is rare to find scenarios were community members who are experiencing serious mental and physical health stresses repeatedly and voluntarily prioritize their health needs, and yet, our Occupational Therapy team continues to create a safe and supporting environment where our patients consistently choose to engage in treatment week after week and are not only present but active and excited.
Shannon and Susan also run our Integrated illness Management Recovery groups, which provide illness management recovery coping skills for clients, through which they have directly improved the lives of many in our community. Additionally, this team proactively supports County case managers by improving access to care for patients to other providers.
BRONZE
Tied between:
Jessica McElveny, Health Services Agency
and
Kennedy Cosker, Health Services Agency
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Jessica McElveny, Health Services Agency
Jessica is a Senior Analyst with Clinics, and has provided the ability through data and focus to grow our Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) outreach within our County communities. At a staff resource level, Jessica is regularly recognized as providing a vision for how we might use data to drive equitable care throughout our community. She prioritizes the needs of our patients and teams who support them, supports those using our Electronic Health Records system, and helps to streamline systems so those serving our patients have more time in directly serving our patients. And while her individual accomplishments and skills perfectly complement our patient centered services, she is also developing a site specialist team to build on our industry leading successes and exponentially grow our ability to improve client services.
Jessica is an extremely valuable reflection of the County and a role model for all with her focus and initiative.
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Kennedy Cosker, Health Services Agency
As one of the longest employed members of the Health Services Agency, Kennedy stands out with his infectious enthusiasm, positive spirit, creative approaches to solving problems before they emerge, and unselfish service to anyone around him. Kennedy is the single webmaster for the public and internal staff for an agency of 600 positions as well as the go-to resource for capturing and spreading news about internal staff and operations. He is the creative system and software designer for new solutions to support public health, clinics, mental health, and environmental health and is also the go-to resource for any public event, quietly sprinting behind the scenes setting up audio and visual equipment. Kennedy also manages elements of our physical and digital site security systems, from electronic door access and badges, to various camera systems. Finally, Kennedy humbly works to create an inclusive and welcoming culture across the agency through innovations like the HSA intranet “yearbook” site and by spearheading employee lunch events.