Employee of the Month
The Clinic’s first Employee of the Month program was launched this year to recognize outstanding individual performance by Kansas City Free Health Clinic employees.
April 2008 Employee of the Month
Estella Brown
Team Leader Registration
Estella Brown joined the Clinic staff as Team Leader Patient Registration on February 12, 2007. In this position, Estella makes sure that patients checking in for their appointments at the Clinic are treated professionally, courteously and efficiently.
Estella brought to the Clinic extensive experience in customer service as well as in medical records. She came to us with great knowledge of medical terminology-extensive scheduling of patient’s appointments-ICD-9 and CPT coding experience. All skills which made her position here a huge success for us all and the patients.
Estella graduated from Wright Business School with her Administrative Medical Assistant certification in February, 2006. She was recognized as a “Star” Student in the program.
This award is Estella’s second recognition as “Employee of the Month” as she was also recognized as such during her five year employment with the Delta Correctional Facility in Greenwood. At Delta she was also recognized as Secretary of the Year.
“Estella has received exceptional marks on her first year’s job performance. She provides the utmost courteous, timely and accurate information to our staff, patients, and out side public whether on the phones or in person. Her role here at the clinic has been tremendous and a great value to the Kansas City Free Health Clinic, “ says Rachelle Branch, Clinic Systems Manager and Estella’s supervisor.
March 2008 Employee of the Month
Paul Linville
Mental Health Therapist
Working in the mental health field is a second career for Paul Linville, one he never considered growing up. Paul grew up in the Lathrop/Liberty area and had an avid interest in art and music. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute for two years in hopes of becoming a painter.
He then attended and graduated from beauty school. For twelve years, he cut hair at the Macy’s hair salon in downtown Kansas City! Obviously in this job, Paul developed and/or refined his listening skills (and probably knew everything about everybody in Kansas City).
Paul entered a different world when he went to work in the UMKC Counseling Psychology Department while finishing his undergraduate degree. He worked in the department for 13 years and came to believe that counseling is “what matters.” Paul earned a Master’s and an Educational Specialist degree in Higher Educational Administration before starting his counseling degree. He did his internship at the Clinic, working under the direction of Pat Larson, Behavioral Health Manager.
After completing his Master’s in Counseling and Guidance, he was a part-time volunteer until he joined the Clinic’s Behavioral Health department as a full time staff member in May, 2006. He was the first counselor to join the department as the other staff members are social workers.
Paul says that “he knew right away that the Clinic is an amazing place.” He appreciates greatly the freedom and autonomy he and the others are given to do their best for their clients, he enjoys the intellectual stimulation that exists in the department, and he feels that Pat Larsen is an unbelievably competent and talented department leader. Paul particularly enjoys working with mental health students.
“Paul has inspired me since he came to the Clinic. His dedication to our patients, and his quiet excellence serve as an example of what a professional should be,“ said Pat Larson.
And, yes, someday Paul will paint again!
February 2008 Employee of the Month
Eric Martin
Team Leader Medical Assistant
In the fall, early winter of 2005, Eric, an experienced medical assistant, was working for a temp employment agency and took a job assignment at the Clinic. As you can probably guess from this start, Eric ended up being hired for the position! At the time Eric knew about the Clinic and had heard good things about it, but since he had always been employed and always had insurance, he didn’t truthfully know a whole lot about the Clinic.
Today, Eric says “that if he knew then what he knows now, he would have tried years ago to join the staff of the Clinic!” Eric continues, “I truly enjoy my job. Working here makes it easy to get up in the morning to come to work. I like helping people the way we do and I like the people that I work with.”
Prior to coming to the work for the Clinic on December 12, 2005, Eric had worked in the medical assistant field for about 12 years with his last position being in a private physicians office in Liberty. He received his medical assistant training from Concorde College.
Eric started with the Clinic as a medical assistant in the General Medicine service area. He was promoted to Team Leader Medical Assistant in early 2006. As such Eric oversees the work of the other Medical Assistants, both staff and volunteer; handles most of the patient referral activities; takes part in the training of all volunteers in the General Medicine area; serves as primary backup for coordinating the dental services offered at the Clinic’s eastside location, and, most importantly, he does whatever it takes to keep the flow of patients on schedule and smooth on a daily basis!
Katy Nguyen, Director General Medicine, says this of Eric, “Eric is able to work in many capacities. He shows his responsibility with the assignments. He does not hesitate to offer his hands for his co-workers when being asked.”
January 2008 Employee of the Month
Michael Ryan
Mental Health Case Manager
In mid life, Mike Ryan made a significant career change -- from supervising construction crews building bridges on interstate highways to working with people in the field of social work. Mike started working at the Clinic in June of 2002 and his love of his job, Mental Health Case Manager, shows in his work.
In his position, Mike works directly with clients and and directly for clients. Mike provides information, referrals, and follow-up for clients who need services (i.e., housing, food, employment, transportation, etc.). He provides the support necessary to facilitate the client’s movement through the medical, psychiatric, and behavioral health environments without duplication of services. He provides clients and other service providers with education about the services offered by the Clinic to increase awareness and referrals for case management. He provides presentations and linkages with local agencies to create an individualized network of support for referrals.
Mike Ryan consistently demonstrates the mission of the Kansas City Free Health Clinic. He exhibits a calm, reasoned approach to our patients and to our staff. He regularly goes above and beyond the "call of duty" in acquiring resources, medications, medical and psychiatric care for our patients. Mike can quickly diffuse complex situations and can identify root causes quickly. He spends a great deal of time working with social work students and sets an example for the rest of the staff on professionalism and dedication.
Patricia Larson, Manager of Behavioral Health Services at the Clinic, says this of Mike...."Mike is one of the finest social workers with whom I’ve had the privilege to work in my 25 year career in social work. He is dependable, resourceful, and persistent, and he truly cares about each patient we see."