Bayfront Health Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda Name Employees of the Year

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (March 31, 2015) – Bridgett Donalson, RN, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, and Jeff Houck, Facilities Manager, have been named 2014 Employees of the Year for Bayfront Health Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, respectively. The recognition is the highest honor a hospital employee can receive.

Employees are nominated for the award by their colleagues based on their commitment to patient care, their professionalism and their contributions on the job. Donalson and Houck were chosen for the recognition from among 860 employees at the Port Charlotte location and 470 employees at the Punta Gorda location.

“Each employee plays an important role in delivering quality care and creating the best possible experience for our patients,” said Ricky Satcher, Bayfront Health Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda Market CEO. “Bridgett and Jeff exemplify the best of who we are as healthcare providers through their dedication to our patients and the hospital. It is a pleasure to recognize Bridgett and Jeff and celebrate the hard work of all our employees.”

Donalson has worked at Bayfront Health Port Charlotte since January 2012, when the cardiac program moved from Bayfront Health Punta Gorda. She began working there in 2009 on the medical surgical floor and won the “HOPE” award for outstanding patient care. Donalson’s career progressed to the Cardiovascular Step-Down Unit (CVSD) and finally to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU). In addition to working full-time caring for critical patients, Donalson recently earned her bachelor’s degree and is now working on her master’s.

Donalson says: “The critical care patients that I care for are very ill and often scared. It’s rewarding to help them stay calm and get through their situation because they are so appreciative, and their recovery is such a success story.”

“Bridgett serves as a great role model to her co-workers and those in the nursing field. She successfully handles the most critical situations and compassionately cares for patients while balancing work, school and family life,” says Donalson’s supervisor, Mary Jo Wyville, RN.

Houck has worked at Bayfront Health Punta Gorda since August 1982. While at the hospital, he has worked in several positions including security officer and maintenance technician, and worked his way up to Facilities Manager. In 2010, Houck received the hospital’s “Impact Award” for outstanding customer care and loyalty, and in 2013 he received Associate of the Month recognition. After Hurricane Charley, Houck was instrumental in maintaining hospital operations.

“I enjoy the daily challenges of keeping the hospital up and running and like to do whatever it takes to get the job done,” says Houck.

Chris Loftus, Associate Administrator of Bayfront Health Punta Gorda says: “Jeff may not have direct patient contact, but I think it’s safe to say in his 32 years of selfless dedication to making sure the building is up to Life Safety standards, he has probably been responsible for just as many lives, if not more lives, than anyone else at this hospital.”