Patient Letter Results in Salinas Valley Health STAR Award

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

In the age of social media and quick text messages, a well written letter can hold special significance and that is precisely how an imaging professional at Salinas Valley Health became the recipient of the organization’s STAR award. The award recognizes exceptional service and stands for Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect - a systemwide mantra capturing the Healthcare System’s values in treating patients, families and each other.

A patient with high praise for a sonographer at the Salinas Valley Health Imaging Center wrote a letter about his experience and addressed it to the president of the publicly elected Board of Directors. The author detailed his encounter with Lindsay Gamino, resulting in her nomination and selection for the STAR Award.

The letter reads in part: “Her appearance, demeanor, way of communicating and patience in giving instruction to me created a feeling that I was seen as an individual and was going to have a study performed to the absolute best of her ability. This was before the study was started. What a good feeling for a patient.”

After serving two years in a contractor position, Salinas Valley Health hired Lindsay in December of 2012 and she is currently a sonographer IV for the Ultrasound Department.

During the STAR Award ceremony, Lindsay received a crystal star, plaque, STAR badge charm and other gifts. Lindsay said “I’ve been here eleven years and that’s an indication of how much I enjoy working at Salinas Valley Memorial. I love our patient population and the variety of services we perform at the Imaging Center. It feels good when our patients recognize our dedication.”

Four other individuals also received recognition for their STAR Award nominations - Gael Loris, Clinical Pharmacist; Gina Perez, Surgical Tech; Kara Torres, Marketing Events; and Laura Zerbe, Facilities Regulatory Compliance & Improvement Specialist.

Every month, Salinas Valley Health recognizes two extraordinary employees, one with a DAISY Award (for nurses) and another with a STAR Award (for all staff). Nominations can be submitted by patients, visitors and staff. Nomination forms and drop boxes are located throughout the hospital and online. To learn more about the awards visit Nurse Recognition | Salinas Valley Health or STAR Award | Monterey County Health System (salinasvalleyhealth.com).