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Lewis County Health System Announces 2020 Employee of
the Year
Published: April 10, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.
By: Press Release from Lewis County Health System
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April
9, 2021
Lewis County Health System Announces 2020 Employee of the Year
Lowville, N.Y. - Lewis County Health System (LCHS) is pleased to
announce the 2020 Employee of the Year is Mr. Daniel Virkler. Daniel, a Beaver River Central School
graduate, has worked in the Environmental Services department at Lewis
County Health System for 17 years.
A ceremony was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic to
honor the 12 Employees of the Month and announce the Year's Employee on March
24, 2021. LCHS employees received a
ballot with the Employees of the Month named and cast their vote
anonymously for the person they believed deserves the Year recognition
Employee.
According to the Emergency Department (ED) staff member who nominated
Daniel for his compassion, "On Christmas eve, Daniel shared true
Christmas spirit. The ED had a patient brought in by EMS. Upon discharge,
the patient had no way home, no shoes to wear, and uses a cane to ambulate.
The patient planned to walk home in the cold and rain. After several calls
placed by the ED staff, staff came through for the patient. Lewis County Search and Rescue called,
stating they would assist the patient to his home. Staff members arrived at
the Emergency Department with supplies, including a blanket, a pair of
socks, and a cane. Daniel removed his boots to give to the patient so that
he would have something to wear. The patient broke down in tears and said
that no one had ever done anything like that for him." Daniel shared
compassion with someone he had never met, no questions asked, just gave up
his boots.
"I was honored and surprised to be recognized as the Employee
of the Year for an act of kindness.
To give of yourself to someone in need is what I know," Mr. Virkler said. "I enjoy the work I do and the great
people I work with."
LCHS staff and administration congratulated Daniel for going above
and beyond for a patient while upholding the community-based hospital's
mission and values.
The other 2020 Employee of the Year nominees includes January -
Lynne Oakes, Surgical Services, February - Tina Dicob,
Surgical Services, March- Joanne Dickinson, Laboratory, April- Mackenzie
Bellinger, Nursing Home, May- Jacquelyn Gamache, Respiratory Therapy, June-
Corrie Schell, Lewis County Family Practice, July- Bettina Bates, Intensive
Care Unit, August- Stephanie Kirkbride, Nursing Home, September- Lori Peters,
Quality Assurance, October- Teresa Allen, Nursing Home Rehab, November-
Whitney Waugh, Medical-Surgical Unit, and December- Daniel Virkler, Environmental Services.
Previous LCHS Employees of the Year were: Judy Widrick,
1998; Bette Redner, 1999; Richard Schneider, 2000; Mary Bellinger, 2001;
Rae Austin, 2002; Nick Hanno, 2003; Jackie Beagle, 2004; Kathy Millard,
2005; Deb Bullock, 2006; Lucy Hoch, 2007; Karen Morrison, 2008; Hope
Graves, 2009; Pam Kloster 2010; Danielle Cobb
2011; Tina Bates 2012; Tracy Goldthrite 2013;
Charity Glenn 2014; Judy Widrick 2015; Robert Dening 2016; Melissa Clark 2017; Tracy Goldthrite 2018; and Kevin Felshaw 2019.
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In photo left to right – Gerald R. Cayer, LCHS Chief Executive Officer, is presenting an
award to
Daniel Virkler,
2020 Employee of the Year.
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