LEWISTON — Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice presented six outstanding individuals with Employee of the Year Awards at the agency’s gathering in April. Every year, Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice recognizes and honors employees who have made outstanding contributions to the agency. The recipients were nominated by their peers for exemplifying one or more of the agency’s values – integrity, stewardship, accountability, compassion, quality and trust.

Heather Cabral, hospice aide at the Hospice House, is known for completely dedicating herself to the patients and families with sincere empathy and good spirits. Cabral’s patients and their families truly come first. Her caring can be seen in meaningful ways: putting the patient’s favorite music on, having the rooms organized, managing her time efficiently and always seeing the patient as the number one priority. Heather represents someone her colleagues can look up to – honest, respectful, caring and loving.

Kim Chesley, administrative assistant in the Volunteer Department, is the epitome of customer service with everyone she comes in contact with – volunteers, patients, families and staff in both the Volunteer Department and as back up for Supportive Care. Chesley also manages the many office volunteers who help out in other departments. She exemplifies professionalism and dedication to excellent service every day. Chesley is patient, listens well, cares for other’s needs, processes information and reacts to situations, requests, concerns and complaints in a rational, logical and compassionate manner. She is a true team player.

Tish Clark, occupational therapist in the Lewiston office, is described as the employee that everyone wants. Clark strives for the best outcomes, sets goals that patients can reasonably expect to achieve, helps others on her team with issues, no matter what their discipline and does everything with ease, humor and tactful, professional care. She is known for keeping morale up and communicating with all teams as one. Clark always puts the patient first and provides MODEL Care.

Michelle Couillard, R.N. in the CCT Program in Lewiston, began with the agency’s new Community Care Team program when it first started in January 2012. Her work has greatly impacted many of the challenging patients since that time. Couillard has been able to forge strong relationships with not only the patients but all of the expanded staff on the team, and with numerous physician practices she deals with. Her passion and creativity have led to reducing the ER and hospital use of these high risk patients, as well as improving patient outcomes. She accomplishes this by building trust and focusing on how to help the patients learn to work on their own health goals.

Trisha Dubois, R.N. in Intermittent Services in Lewiston, is viewed as a compassionate and empathetic nurse who gives patients high quality as well as holistic and thoughtful care. She always serves as an advocate for the patient. Dubois is a true team player, pitching in when there are unmet needs. She brings forward ideas with problem solving expertise and creativity. Dubois has worked closely with several patients who were transitioning to end of life and she professionally navigated “the bridge” which is difficult for so many. There have been many patient attestations to her superior work.

Diane Pinard, R.N. at the Hospice House, is always willing to help no matter, whether it is on her assignment or not. She always goes above and beyond. Pinard is consistently respectful to patients, families and to her co-workers. She adheres closely to policies and procedures and encourages others to do so as well. Pinard sets a great example for her co-workers. She puts the needs of the patients first, and does this with a smile. 

“Our employees are the heart and soul of this agency. Their professionalism, knowledge, compassion and sincerity toward their patients are qualities admired by all,” said Julie Shackley, Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice president/CEO. “It is difficult to choose only six to be awarded, but this year’s recipients are more than worthy of this honor.”

For more information on Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice and its services, visit www.AHCH.org.