In the News
Gwendolyn Hall Wins Maggie P. Montgomery Award
"Trustworthy," "dependable," "a bright spot in a busy, hectic clinic day" -- these are just some of the words used to describe Gwendolyn Hall, health unit coordinator for Treatment Center 8 / Neurology Clinic and winner of this year's Maggie P. Montgomery award. The award was established three years ago in honor of Maggie Montgomery, a much-loved health unit coordinator on the fifth floor of the old Location H building, who died shortly after her retirement. Employees of the Division of Patient Services may nominate any health unit coordinator who has worked in the division for at least three years and who demonstrates outstanding ability in the areas of:
- Self-management / personal integrity / communication
- Teamwork / professional growth / leadership
- Excellence / innovation / quality improvement
- Professional / clinical practice
- Consistently supporting the Patient Services' vision of putting patients and families first.
The nominating letters give glowing accounts of Hall's qualifications as an award recipient.
"Gwen is an essential part of making the clinic run smoothly, and therefore, a greater number of patients are seen in a more efficient manner." -- Ton de Grauw, MD, Director, Division of Pediatric Neurology and staff.
"Gwen greets everyone with a smile and treats families with the utmost respect. It amazes me still after all this time that she can recall a family by name, then talk to them like old friends. The quality of her work is exemplary!" -- Natalie Kallmeyer, RN, CNI.
"This clinic is quite often a fastpaced and very demanding place. Sometimes three phones will be ringing, medical students, residents, faculty, nurses, parents and patients seem to all be talking at once and orders need to be entered into the computer. But Gwen has complete control of the situation. She is often referred to as 'the boss' and the 'traffic controller' in the clinic." -- Anna L. King, RN, CNII, Neurology.
Hall, who has worked at Cincinnati Children's for 20 years, was given the award Friday, August 16, at the third annual Health Unit Coordinator reception. In addition to receiving a check, her name will be inscribed on a plaque that is displayed in Location H on the seventh-floor Patient Services office.
Says Hall, "I was surprised to find out I'd won. I didn't even realize I'd been nominated. But I'm very happy to have been chosen. This award is a great way for Cincinnati Children's to keep Maggie Montgomery's spirit alive here in Patient Services."
