At one point or another, every department at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital comes in contact with the public. With that contact comes the opportunity to present a positive image to our community. The admitting department is most often responsible for providing patients and visitors with their first impressions of our hospital.

"We work very hard on guest relations," says Access Manager Shirley Stepp. "Patients and families coming into our hospital are often in a stressful situation. Our job is to ease their concerns in a caring and efficient manner."

In an average day, the admitting department handles a variety of requests from many persons including physicians, nurses and patients. Physicians call to schedule patients for admission and nurses inform admitting of any patient transfers. The access department staff also must be familiar with the procedures and guidelines of various insurance companies.

During the admitting process, patients sometimes are feeling apprehensive and need support. "When people aren't feeling well we need to be fast, accurate and above all, friendly," admitting staff member Jennifer Miller noted. "If we don't do our job right, the problems reverberate throughout the hospital. Our main priority is to balance efficiency with large doses of caring and concern."

Another staff member, Elizabeth Hernandez, reports that her job is very rewarding. "I feel good at the end of the day when I know I was able to make a difference in a person's outlook by cheering them up, or smoothing away worries by being there to answer questions."

Members of the admintting department are: Cindy Milner, Melissa Kennedy, Peggy Rudolph, Elizabeth Hernandez, Sarah Dougherty, Peter Bryan, Nancy Reed, Yvette Brasgalla, Jonathan Davis, Jennifer Miller, Shay Brown, Grace Maxwell and Gayle Hall. 

As National Healthcare Access Personnel Week approaches, we acknowledge our special goodwill ambassadors in the Access Department for initiating the caring spirit that exists among all our hospital staff. A reception in the hospital cafeteria is set for 2 p.m. April 8 during National Healthcare Access Personnel Week, April 5 -11.

PHOTO INFORMATION: Members of the admitting department play a vital role at SSMH as the goodwill ambassadors for the hospital. Pictured are: Shirley Stepp, access manager (from left); Cindy Milner; Jonathan Davis; Elizabeth Hernandez; Yvette Brasgalla; and Shay Brown.