Here are the finalists in the 2015 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.

Claire Corbett

TITLE: AMI and stroke programs manager

ORGANIZATION: New Hanover Regional Medical Center

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Thousands of lives in Wilmington and the surrounding communities have been saved thanks to the passion of Claire Corbett.

She has initiated two programs that coordinate timely care for patients experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and Stroke.

The STEMI program has won multiple national awards for its quality of care and rapid response times, and the Stroke program recently received national certification. Thanks to Claire’s work, STEMI patients routinely receive PCI in an average of 45 minutes, and the program has been recognized with numerous national awards, including Mission Lifeline’s Gold Plus award and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Platinum ACTION Platinum awards for heart attack care. Only 50 hospitals nationwide have received these awards.

Claire also assumed leadership of NHRMC’s Stroke program in 2010. Claire’s work with the stroke team led to a survey by The Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations in September 2015, which resulted in NHRMC’s designation as a Primary Stroke Center.”

-Iris Baker, NHRMC outreach coordinator

 

Tara Everett

TITLE: Social worker

ORGANIZATION: Northchase Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Mrs. Everett was my loved ones’ social worker in 2014 when they were admitted to Cypress Pointe Rehab.

She treated my grandmother and our family with the upmost respect from the first day of admission.

I can remember coming to visit my grandmother from out of town late (8 p.m.) on a Friday, and Mrs. Everett was still at the facility. She was in my grandmother’s room, reading the newspaper to her.

When discussions started about my mother’s discharge plan, as a family, we were completely clueless as to what resources were available. I was amazed at how knowledgeable Mrs. Everett was of the resources, and the specifications with each.

The care she took with my grandfather was amazing. She met him at his level and sat down and discussed each possibility with him. She even met him at the local Department of Social Services and Social Security Commission to get the necessary documents that were needed.”

-Shawanna Hicks, previous patients’ granddaughter

Carrie Menke

TITLE: Specialty Court coordinator

ORGANIZATION: N.C. Courts

WHAT THE NOMINATOR SAID: “Dr. Menke has made a significant impact on saving and changing lives for those afflicted with mental health disorders and alcohol/drug addictions.

She has worked extensively on writing and receiving grants to keep specialty courts alive in Brunswick County.

Her work not only affects those directly involved with the court system, but those residing in the community as well. Research shows the specialty courts reduce recidivism and makes safer communities.

Dr. Menke has also worked hard on getting the court system educated in mental health and substance use disorders.

We all know that the war on drugs is a failure, and she plays an intricate role providing training opportunities to those who have the power to make change happen. She is truly deserving of this nomination, and I hope her work will be given the recognition it deserves in the community.”

-Michelle Sweeney, Brunswick DWI Assessment & Services administrator director