Meet the Fraser Health staff who have gone Above and Beyond

• The Fraser Health Hero Award recognizes heroes at all levels that deliver exceptional patient care, and then push themselves – and Fraser Health – another step further. This year’s winners include:
  • Harm reduction coordinator Erin Gibson, who has been on the frontlines of Fraser Health’s response to the overdose public health emergency.
  • Dr. Richard Merchant, who has pioneered the development of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol at Royal Columbian Hospital.
• The Innovator Award recognizes an individual or team who champion changes to improve Fraser Health services, while advancing health care practices and conserving resources. This year’s winners include.
  • The Fraser Health Eating Disorders program, which co-developed a family therapy group to help boost eating disorder recovery rates.
  • Dr. John Hwang, who works with Royal Columbian Hospital surgical teams to enhance post-operative patients’ recovery so they can be independent at home more quickly.
• The Best Collaborator Award recognizes partnerships across disciplines that spark fresh insights that lead to transformational health care. This year’s winners include:
  • The Right Care Right Place Project team, which launched the Use the ER Wisely campaign at Peace Arch Hospital, and is credited with educating patients to visit their family physicians or walk-in clinics for non-emergency health care concerns.
  • The Pediatric Diabetes Transition Team, which supports youth who have turned 18 in transitioning from the pediatric diabetes program to the adult program.
• The Service Delivery Excellence Award recognizes clinical and non-clinical staff who go to great lengths to exceed service expectations. This year’s winners include:
  • Dr. Hilary Erin Rowe, a Surrey Memorial Hospital expert in maternal fetal medicine who has led cutting-edge research on safe drug treatments for mothers and infants in her care.
  • Bryce Walker, the regional program coordinator for home support who spearheaded Fraser Health’s centralization of home support services, ultimately leading to more consistent services for clients across the region.
  • Margaret Clarke, a 25-year volunteer at the North Delta Public Health Unit who supported nurses and reassured parents and children during health and immunization visits until her passing earlier this year.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a contribution to Fraser Health’s work and culture that has spanned more than a decade.
  • Mits Miyata, who has spent 35 years as a pharmacist, supervisor, manager and director – 16 of those at Fraser Health. Miyata has been instrumental in advocating for clinical pharmacists to move away from a strict dispensing role and toward direct patient care as part of multidisciplinary teams.

For detailed information about each of the 2017 Above and Beyond Award winners, please click here.