In 1999, Door County Medical Center became a Catholic healthcare organization. "This meant adopting a mission that carries on the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, with special attention given to those in need," says Brian Stephens, CEO of Door County Medical Center. "More than 20 years later," he adds, "this organization proudly continues that healing ministry every day—improving the health and well-being of all people, and in particular, the poor in the communities we serve."

Door County Medical Center’s Mission & Values Team

In 2000, the Mission & Values Team was formed. "The Mission & Values Team is an interdisciplinary team—it is an 11 member team that includes folks from all different roles throughout the organization who volunteer to be on that team," Stephens says. The Mission & Values Team also includes 1 non-hospital affiliated community member and clergy in order to ensure that DCMC’s Catholic identity and values are present in all aspects of its work—in essence, strengthening the hospital’s identity as a healing ministry of the Catholic Church.

The "Living Our Values" award

Every year, the Mission & Values Team recognizes employees who exemplify DCMC's Catholic values with the "Living Our Values" award. "Day in, day out," Stephens notes, "the employees at Door County Medical Center come to work and literally carry on a mission that Jesus started 2,000 years ago. However, we’re imperfect human beings and we can’t carry that out perfectly," he continues, "so what we’ve come up with is a very practical set of four values to ensure that we’re doing our best at living up to the example that Jesus Christ set." Those values are:

• Service—we make intentional decisions and take actions to benefit our patients, community, and each other.

• Vision—we use innovation and our expertise to improve the health of the communities we serve and to sustain and grow our health care ministry.

• Compassion—we genuinely care about people’s needs. We treat everyone like the family, friends and neighbors they are. This sets us apart from other healthcare organizations.

• Excellence—we are engaged to deliver the best outcomes in quality, service, finance, culture and growth.

Employees from each department submit nominations for fellow employees that they feel demonstrate one of those four core values. From those nominees, four are selected for the "Living Our Values" award based on each individual’s contributions that, within the last year or two, exemplify the core features of that value.

2022 "Living Our Values" Recipients 

Service Award: Stacie Jaucquet

In Care Management, Megan Fox, Quality Care Manager RN, nominated Stacie Jaucquet, Quality Care Manager RN. "Stacie goes above and beyond in her line of work in order to fulfill patients’ needs," Megan says, adding, "She extends her time in Care Management to work with Meditech, our electronic medical record experts; she heads the Mission & Values Silent Auction Committee, which raises thousands of dollars for the Ministry Fund each year; and also teaches basic life support classes to both employees and community members. 

Frequently, completing all of these extra tasks while managing her Care Management responsibilities means she is required to come in early or to stay late. Additionally, when Stacie identifies a need," Megan continues, "she takes it to the appropriate department head, and not only brings up the concern, but also provides reasonable resolutions for these issues. 

"Working side-by-side with Stacie," Megan notes, "I’ve learned she is always up for a challenge, and can complete any task she has her mind set to. She is aware of our hospital and the community needs around us, and has the motivation to make positive changes to all aspects of our organization."

Vision Award: James Blum 

Melissa Horstketter, Lab Department Assistant, nominated James (Jamie) Blum, Lab Medical Scientist. Of Jamie, Melissa says, "When thinking of someone who embodies our mission and values at Door County Medical Center, I think of Jamie Blum. Specifically, his vision in sustaining and growing our health care ministry, thereby improving the health of our community. We are lucky to have someone with such expertise and passion in microbiology," she adds, noting that, "not only does Jamie educate our colleagues, but he has also implemented advanced testing for the community.

As a leader of  microbiology and molecular testing, Jamie has conducted numerous validation studies to meet FDA and CAP requirements, which helped bring new COVID tests to the hospital. Jamie also performed intensive studies to validate pooled COVID testing Melissa says. She adds, "This allowed us to test up to 5 patients with one cartridge accurately and sufficiently, cutting our COVID test turnaround times in half." Additionally, Melissa notes that Jamie’s research and work helped alleviate COVID test supply shortages.

"Jamie uses his knowledge and passion to bring more to the community and help everyone around him," Melissa comments, "He is always willing to provide extra education to anyone who asks. He loves to provide statistics and facts to not only lab staff, but also to all associates and his wonderful ideas and vision has provided many benefits to DCMC."

Compassion Award: Jodi Falk 

Jodi Falk, Recreation Therapist, was nominated by Michelle Wetak, Department Assistant in the Skilled Nursing Facility, and John Hauser, Lead Chaplin in Spiritual Services. John remarks that, "She has consistently exhibited a genuine and sincere interest in the lives of the residents." Michelle adds that, in Jodi’s 30 years as Activity Coordinator at the Skilled Nursing Facility, "She has been an advocate for the residents and always has the resident’s best interest in mind."

"Jodi participates in day-to-day activities to help provide meaningful activities for residents including organizing spiritual needs," Michelle continues, "She plans all of the Skilled Nursing Facility functions and entertainment—cookouts, the summer picnic, and the Christmas party— and every year, Jodi’s family does a fish boil in the facility courtyard for the residents to enjoy, and at the end of life, she makes herself available to sit with residents who might otherwise be alone, providing a calming presence and reassurance for individuals who are scared or struggling. 

John remarks that, "When the COVID pandemic started in early 2020, changes to care standards were frequent on both state and federal levels. Everyday," he continues, "Jodi walked into a work environment where the rules of the day before had often changed overnight. On top of that," he adds, "residents went through extended periods of isolation and were even stopped from gathering with family and friends, and standard gatherings for bingo, exercise, meals, music and even church were curtailed. Throughout the pandemic," John says "Jodi rolled with all those changes and adapted smoothly to new ways of doing her job. She made sure that the residents had the activities and interactions that they needed to continue to be actively engaged in living—she created hallway bingo to provide a safe way for them to participate in their favorite game, and constantly coordinated video calls between residents and family."

"Jodi genuinely cares about the residents’ needs and always places them above her own needs," John says, adding, "I have no doubt that when she leaves work at the end of the day, she spends most of the drive thinking about how to make tomorrow better."

Excellence Award: Sue Knipp

Pharmacist Bradley Hobart nominated Sue Knipp, Pharmacy Technician, citing an optimistic and magnetic energy that she brings to work everyday, an energy that bolsters morale and feeds a positive work culture. "Sue enthusiastically completes any task that is asked of her and proactively helps others when her own work slows," says Bradley, adding, "she is exceptionally motivated, and her attitude and work ethic help us deliver timely and efficient care to patients."

"Beyond that," Bradley notes, "Sue is constantly looking for ways to improve drug use efficiency: she frequently finds prescription medications that will expire soon and cycles them out of low use areas and into high use areas; she works diligently to recoup thousands of dollars from manufacturers when drugs need to be returned or were not reimbursed appropriately; and when ordering from our distributor, she consistently investigates different manufacturers of the same drugs in order to save money."

"As a pharmacy technician," he concludes, "Sue’s day-to-day tasks are mostly behind-the-scenes, however they have a large impact on patient care and organizational culture, and her efforts in the financial sphere have significantly reduced DCMC’s bottom line."

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Door County Medical Center congratulates Stacie, Jamie, Jody and Sue and thanks them for their tireless and incredible work. "All of the recipients, all of the nominees, they all show us how to live out our values and our mission every day," says Stephens, adding "My message to our winners, and to everyone who was nominated this year is: thank you for continuously living out your testimony with our patients and our coworkers—you’re just a great example for all of us."