2015 Employee Recognition Awards - Health

GOLD - Maria Vazquez, HSA Clinics

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Maria Vazquez is the Accounting Technician in the Health Services Agency Clinics Business Office. Maria supports this critical mission by overseeing and maintaining the revenue cycle and medical insurance claims operation. The EPIC production management software is a very complex package that generates Clinics’ medical billing and collections. Staff relies heavily on Maria’s expertise and acknowledges her as the lead. In the past year clinics has had three major service additions including Medi-Care, Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care, and Dental services, each requiring separate new programming to be initiated. Maria works exhaustively to test all the programming implementation before going live. Maria is a critical member of the team that has enabled each of the new services to reach revenue capture, at present the additional services will increase revenue by $6.8 million for Santa Cruz County. Maria has worked diligently in her role and her expertise has benefited the department and the County which is why we are honoring her today.

SILVER - TIED between members of the Homeless Persons Health Project and
members of the Public Health Communicable Disease Prevention Team

Members of the Homeless Persons Health Project, HSA Clinics

Back Row, Left to Right:
Joey Crottogini
Paul Gendreau
Matt Nathanson


Front Row, Left to Right:
Mariela Melgoza
Georgina Ibarra
Alejandra Bermudez
Suzanne Samson
Alba Avalos-Sanchez


Not Pictured:
Alejandra Bermudez
Jean Graham
Andi Wass

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The Homeless Persons Health project provides services throughout Santa Cruz County to homeless or marginally housed youth, adults, and families with children. The staff, and clinics provide assistance to over 3,000 individuals per year. On June 26, 2015, the clinic faced disaster, when the clinic area was flooded by overhead sprinklers, which ruined the majority of equipment, including the walls, flooring, computers and personal items. The dedicated staff remained committed to serving their clients. They moved their services to another section of the Homeless Services Center with a unfaltering focus to meet the needs of individuals facing barriers to provide the highest level of medical care with compassion, persistence, dedication and skill. Thank you for your dedication to our County and community.

Members of the Public Health Communicable Disease Prevention Team, Public Health Division

Back Row, Left to Right:
Eloy Mendez
Denise Parodi
Ruben Chavez


Front Row, Left to Right:
Theresia Rogerson
Suzanne Samson
Claudia Llamas-Padilla


Inset:
Jessica Oltmanns

Not Pictured:
Dena Loijos
Cathy Padilla

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The Health Services Agency’s Public Health and Clinics Division employees work in partnership with the community to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases associated with intravenous substance abuse. This public health intervention has been proven to reduce HIV and other blood-borne disease transmission in the community. In addition, they provide referrals to substance abuse treatment programs, mental health services, and medical services along with information on disease prevention. This team provides an essential link to health services for uninsured and marginalized populations that may not have access to traditional health care within Santa Cruz County. The Public Health and Clinics Divisions of the Health Services Agency acknowledges all of the hard work done by this team and so does the entire Santa Cruz County community. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

BRONZE - Linda Betts, Behavioral Health

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As the Assistant Departmental Administrative Analyst for the Health Services Agency and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Linda has gone above and beyond her duties. She is known as the “go to” person during critical, challenging, and unusual incidents. Linda’s knowledge of County policy is exceptional which has led her to be the key point person who always holds the macro and micro view of every problem or challenge. Every single person in HSA is touched and aided by Linda’s work including multiple departments such as MHSAS, Children’s and Adult Mental Health, Adult and Drug programs. Linda is an exceptional employee who carries out her work with a smile, and positive can-do attitude while juggling a multitude of tasks with a professional and efficient manner. According to her co-workers she is a Jill-of-all Trades and no job is too big or too small. Linda consistently goes the extra mile which is why she is deserving of this award.