Staff Highlights

Award recipients Maria Botello (left) and Deb Smith (right) are congratulated by ERMC President and CEO Tim Johnson

Eaton Rapids Medical Center (ERMC) employees Maria Botello and Deb Smith were honored with the Dr. Meinke and Dr. Sherman Distinguished Service Award at the hospital's 2012 Winter Gala. Each year, two employees are recognized for providing exceptional service to Eaton Rapids Medical Center patients and the community. The award was established to honor Dr. Meinke and Dr. Sherman, physicians who were instrumental in the founding of Eaton Rapids Medical Center.

Maria Botello is a receptionist for the ERMC Specialty Patients and has worked for the hospital for 9 years. The nomination states, "Maria is an extremely professional person who loves the patients she serves and the co-workers with whom she spends her day. Maria is also very discreet in her ways, being sure to give our patients all the privacy they deserve. If she sees a patient waiting in pain, she is quick to get a staff member to help bring up a wheelchair. Maria takes her interaction with the patients very seriously and understands the importance of each interaction. Her genuine compassion for her job is evident."

Deb Smith has been working as a medical assistant for the Medical Center Specialty Clinics for nearly 5 years. According to the nomination, "Deb takes pride not only in her department, but in the organization as a whole. She is the 'go-to' person for staff in the Specialty Clinic, as well as other employees throughout the facility. She is sought out numerous times a day to answer questions and to troubleshoot when a problem arises. Deb personally took on the responsibility of making sure her department was ready for The Joint Commission inspection. She is certainly one of the most motivated and genuine co-workers a peer could ask for."

Photo: Award recipients Maria Botello (left) and Deb Smith (right) are congratulated by ERMC President and CEO Tim Johnson (center).