Fall 2018 Service Excellence Awards: Denise Cook
Geisinger Health Plan recently held its Service Excellence Awards ceremony to recognize employees who consistently demonstrate a commitment to excellence in service and quality, a positive attitude, teamwork and dedication to GHP’s initiatives.
Steve Youso, GHP president and chief executive officer, presented the biannual awards during a ceremony on Jan. 24 at GHP’s Hughes Center North building, Danville.
There were three individual award winners and a team award. Each of their stories will be posted separately.
Denise Cook, associate executive assistant, was nominated by Dr. Bret Yarczower, senior medical director, who shared her story at the ceremony.
Denise was working at the Bloomsburg Fair in September when she received a call from a close, long-time friend who was trying to contact her 80-year-old father who lives alone in Bloomsburg. With living four hours away, Denise's friend called Denise to check on her father. Denise immediately went to his home.
Denise found him in poor condition following a fall down the stairs. Using a combination of gentle persuasion and stern warning, Denise convinced him to allow her to take him to the Geisinger Bloomsburg ER. He was then transferred to Geisinger Medical Center with renal failure and anemia. He was admitted to the ICU.
Denise remained in contact with his daughter and has visited her father several times.
"Denise's actions likely prevented a disastrous outcome," Yarczower said. "While Denise downplays her extraordinary actions, we regard her as our quiet hero."
