Here are the finalists in the 2014 Health Care Heroes Health Care Professional category.

Honors any health care providers other than physicians or nurses whose performance is considered exemplary by patients, peers and other health care providers.

Dominique Bacchus

TITLE: CNA and household coordinator

ORGANIZATION: The Davis Community

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Dominique has been in the health care industry for nine years, the last eight at The Davis Community.

In 2008 she was invited to represent staff in a year-long strategic planning process focused on transforming nursing home care from a medical model to a homelike model of care. She spoke out with confidence and offered insightful comments that dramatically impacted the way the new households would be designed and how the services should be provided.

She so impressed another participant that he asked her to serve as a consultant in the development of training videos for CNAs.

She first excelled as the Transportation Coordinator, a position that requires patience, understanding and a great deal of humor. Then she became the Hospitality Coordinator for the Rehabilitation Pavilion. Dominique was voted one of the top three Ambassadors of Compassion based on nominations from residents and family members and each nomination detailed her ability to reach the emotional needs as well as the physical needs of her patients. Her care and attention even prompted a rehab patient to write a personal thank you to her in a ‘Letter to the Editor’ in the StarNews.
 

Jennifer Buxton

TITLE: Director of pharmacy
ORGANIZATION: Cape Fear Clinic

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Buxton has been instrumental in aligning the clinical and pharmacy services of Cape Fear Clinic with the needs of the community and the changing landscape of healthcare since 2003.

As the clinic's first resident Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner, Dr. Buxton revamped our on-site pharmacy, growing our capacity from over 4,000 prescriptions dispensed in 2011 to more than 20,000 in 2013.

In addition to her pharmacy work, she maintains a clinical practice in mental health providing medication management to our patients and serves as a co-director of our nationally-recognized mental health program.

She has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists; Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award from the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists and the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy Hospital Preceptor of the Year Award. She also holds the community pharmacist seat on the Board of Directors of Cape Fear HealthNet.

In large part due to the systems and procedures implemented under her co-leadership, Cape Fear Clinic's mental health program has been recognized nationally and has been made available for replication throughout North Carolina and across the nation.”
 

Kevin Collopy

TITLE: Clinical education coordinator

ORGANIZATION: Air Link/Vita Link

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “To become the first in the country at anything is special. At New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the AirLink/VitaLink Critical Care Transport Team became the first mobile laboratory accredited by the College of American Pathologist (CAP) in the country.

Although not the original goal of Kevin Collopy, his relentless drive to obtain CAP accreditation has resulted in New Hanover Regional Medical Center's AirLink and VitaLink crew to use lab value recognition for deciding in-transit treatment interventions.

This has resulted in an average of 30 patients with lab tests performed in transport per month, where 45% of the care plans changed because due to the instant availability of lab values. The overall effect has been a significant reduction in mortality secondary to severe systemic infections.

Kevin has successfully helmed countless other projects. Kevin has been instrumental in developing and maintaining protocols and education surrounding time sensitive emergencies within our network, including those for STEMI, stroke and sepsis. I have not met many individuals who are as devoted to their job or who dedicate themselves so completely to their role as Kevin does.”