Eight years ago Chris Beck began his health care career as a part-time fitness attendant at the Union Hospital Healthplex while attending classes for his bachelor?s degree at Malone College. Monday night the Ohio Hospital Association named him one of four finalists for the honor of Heath Care Worker of the Year.
Chris Beck (r) works with Jeff Miller (left),
a vascular sonographer, during a carotid
ultrasound examination.
Beck, 28, of Strasburg, was selected by Union Hospital to be its representative for the award, one of 75 health care workers around Ohio nominated by their hospital employers for recognition. The Ohio Hospital Association created the award in 1996 to honor a hospital employee in Ohio who demonstrates leadership, reflects the values and ideals of Ohio?s health care facilities, goes above and beyond the call of duty, gives back to the community, and has overcome odds to succeed.
?Chris represents the ideals of so many of our employees, is a great representative for them, and very deserving of this honor,? according to William Harding, hospital president and CEO. ?I?m proud of his achievements here at Union Hospital and especially of his contributions to his patients, to the community, and to young people.?
After completing his bachelor?s degree in sports medicine at Malone, Beck earned an MBA from the school. His hospital career has taken him from part-time fitness attendant to positions as an EKG technician, in cardiology testing, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and upon earning his credentials, as a registered vascular technician. Two years ago Beck was named manager of the hospital?s Vascular Laboratory and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department.
Beck is one of the founders and leaders of the Union Hospital TECH program, offering health care career information to students. TECH is Teens Exploring Careers in Healthcare. The group meets monthly in departments of the hospital to hear from staff and physicians and learn about their jobs and educational training. Beck and other hospital staff volunteer their time to plan and host the meetings.
A resident of Strasburg where he lives with his wife and son, Beck was elected to the Strasburg School Board in 2007. He is one of the founders of the Save Our Homes Task Force, a group working to address the home foreclosure crisis in the community.
Gary Crowthers, director of cardiopulmonary services, credits Beck with the growth of the hospital?s Vascular Lab into one of the best in Ohio.
?Chris has instilled his work ethic and compassion for patients into the members of the Vascular Lab Staff,? Crowthers said. ?He has recruited and trained one of the best qualified, most enthusiastic and dedicated groups of people we have at Union Hospital.?
The Union Hospital Vascular Lab is a Clinical Site of Excellence for Zonare Medical Systems and is used as a beta test site for that company?s newest ultrasound technology.
?Chris and his staff are recognized nationally for their outstanding clinical expertise and leadership, ?Crowthers said. ?Our patients benefit from the state-of-the-art in ultrasound testing equipment and imaging technology.?
Beck was announced as a top-four finalist for the award Monday evening in Columbus at the annual meeting of the Ohio Hospital Association at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. The top honor was presented to Michael Kerr, a CPR instructor at St. Joseph?s Health Center in Warren.
June 2008
