Portsmouth, Va. (October 16, 2007) –Sharon Riddick, director of Bon Secours Home Care, was recently selected as the Bon Secours Hampton Road’s Continuing Care representative for the health system’s 2007 Dedicated Service Award.

Riddick has been with Bon Secours for 15 years. She was selected for this prestigious honor because of her consistent demonstration of the Bon Secours core values of respect, compassion, quality, innovation and growth. Riddick works hard to enable the home health staff to provide “Good Help to Those In Need.”  She stays in touch with her staff’s needs, concerns and celebrations and takes the necessary measures to address their needs and concerns. As a leader interested in the personal development of her staff, she has consistently encouraged LPNs to further their education resulting in nearly all of the LPNs entering an RN program in the past few years. Because of her strong commitment and dedication to her team, Riddick’s department Gallop score is 4.74, one of the highest in the organization.

Riddick is dedicated to quality care, and she always treats staff, patients and families with respect. When a home care nurse died suddenly, Riddick worked diligently with other staff members to help ensure that the needs of this single nurse’s two children would be met. Because the nurse died without any savings or relatives, Riddick raised over $30,000 to pay for the funeral and for the children’s future expenses. Over the next year, she kept in touch with the children and their caregiver and coordinated the release of funds with the Bon Secours Maryview Foundation. This example of her compassion and kindness goes far beyond anything that would normally be expected of any manager. These children will never forget Riddick’s efforts on their behalf, and neither will her staff, who know that Riddick’s dedication to the job is second only to the love for her staff.
           
The Bon Secours Health System headquartered in Marriottsville, MD, sponsors the Dedicated Service Award.  It honors employees who have demonstrated their commitment to the core values of Bon Secours.  Riddick was honored at a special dinner in Baltimore with about two-dozen other award recipients and executive leaders from throughout the Bon Secours Health System nationally.  In addition to a plaque commemorating her achievement and award, she will receive a Dedicated Service Award pin and monetary recognition. 

The Bon Secours Health System Dedicated Service Award honors employees who have demonstrated their commitment to the core values of Bon Secours.  Winners are chosen by a team of managers who base their decisions on how well nominees meet the selection criteria, which include support of the mission of Bon Secours, personal development and accomplishments in activities that reach beyond the recipient’s basic job description.  Dedicated Service Awards have been presented over the last 21 consecutive years.