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Deer Park resident honored by Memorial Hermann Southeast
By Diana North, Chronicle Correspondent
18-Jan-2010
Diane Champion said she's one of those lucky people who “wouldn't trade jobs if I had to.”
After 12 years as a nurse at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital, and about 20 years in the field, Champion was selected as the hospital's employee of the year for 2009.
Called to a special awards meeting in late December 2009 that was scheduled hours after her night shift ended, Champion said she had no idea she'd been chosen to receive the cash award and plaque.
“It was a complete surprise,” said Champion. “But the main thing is it's just an honor to be recognized by your fellow employees and management.”
Along with the award, she'll enjoy a reserved parking place in the front lot.
The 65-year-old Deer Park resident was chosen from a nominated pool of 46 hospital employees, said director of patient care Debi Skillman. Skillman nominated Champion by sending in her name and a list of how Champion fulfills the hospital's behavior criteria.
From there, the nomination passed to the hospital's recognition team.
To receive such an award, employees must receive scores of exemplary or higher.
Skillman said that 46 was the highest number of nominees the hospital has received so far, but that the recognition team “overwhelmingly” voted for Champion to receive the award.
In her nomination, Skillman wrote that Champion “would work seven days a week if we let her, and she'd always be early.”
“Diane Champion is such a team player,” said Skillman. “She keeps her cool, does more than expected, she's compassionate and gets recognized by patients and their families for being respectful.”
Champion was also promoted recently to RN IV, or expert level, the highest step on the clinical ladder, and one that requires meeting strict criteria and years of clinical experience.
In addition to her duties as a nurse in cardiac progressive care, Champion worked with her peers to create educational and assessment guidelines for patients.
As chair of the hospital's health care improvement council, she oversees seven different committees that gather information and make recommendations to an executive nurse council.
She is also a member of several other hospital committees.
“We are always looking for ways to make things better for the patient,” Champion said.
Champion followed in the career footsteps of her mother, who worked as a nurse at the same hospital before it was moved to its current location.
She said she learned early that all nurses work hard and try to treat everyone as they would want to be treated. She also calls Memorial Hermann “a great hospital” where she feels challenged by learning new things
“I enjoy meeting the patients to see if I can help them in some way,” Champion said. “I like visiting with them and trying to make their day brighter.”
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