An Employee of the Month must demonstrate team work, customer service, and leadership. Kevin Kolassa exemplifies those traits, which is why he was presented the Employee of the Month Award at CHC for October.

Kevin was hired on September 19, 2009 as a Lab Assistant.  His job duties include specimen collection in area nursing homes and assisted living facilities as well as at CHC.  According to his nominator, “In his time with the CHC Laboratory Kevin has shown a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done and is always looking for ways to do his job collecting specimens at our nursing homes in better ways. He has formed relationships with those businesses that are the best we have ever had. Kevin is always willing to get involved in support of the hospital. Whether it is walking in a parade or singing in a music video you can count on Kevin. His outgoing personality makes him a favorite with patients and he goes the extra mile to help everyone whether a patient, family member or coworker. I am happy to nominate this warm, caring and outstanding gentleman for the Employee of the Month award. We need more just like him.”

Kevin graduated from Bronson High School in 1981.  He worked at Douglas Autotech in Bronson for 15 years and Bronson Plastics for 11 years.  In 2009, Kevin received his phlebotomy certificate fromBakerCollege.

Kevin is married to Gayle Kolassa.  She is an HR/Office Administrator for Borg Warner Cooling Systems inMarshall.  They have a daughter, Becky Kind, who is Social Worker for the State ofMichiganand she has a son, Xander, who is eight years old.  Their son, Ryan Kolassa, is a Marine Technician at Boat City Marina in Portage, Michigan.  Both of Kevin’s children are graduates ofBronsonHigh School.

Kevin enjoys spending time with family, boating, hunting, fishing, playing sports, and watching Notre Dame sports.  He attends St. Mary’s church in Bronson and is a member of the Bronson Knights of Columbus, Sons of American Legion, and past president of Matteson Lake Association.  Kevin is the recent recipient of the 2009 State ofMichigan Outstanding Alumni Associationaward from Michigan Works Association.  Kevin enjoys working at CHC and helping people anyway he can.

The CHC Laboratory provides a wide range of services which includes routine and STAT testing in the following areas:

Hematology              Coagulation              Urinalysis                  Chemistry    

Special Chemistry      Blood Band               Histology                 Cytology  

Microbiology             Serology                    Virology

All sections of the department provide routine and STAT testing for both inpatient and outpatient populations.  The majority of the testing is processed as it is received and there is very little “batch” testing.  For those tests not done on site, CHC utilizes MLabs at theUniversityofMichiganfor the majority of reference laboratory services.  CHC’s Laboratory provides blood and blood products for transfusion.  These blood products are received from the American Red Cross inLansing,Michigan. 

The Laboratory also provides oversight for point-of-care testing done by nursing as well as testing done in any of CHC’s clinics.  The Laboratory provides community health screenings at both Community Fest and the Older American Health Fair.  On average the Laboratory department does approximately 24,000 billable tests per month.  There is an average of 100 outpatients per day.  In addition, the lab draws patients at The Laurels of Coldwater, Maple Lawn,Drews Place, and Masonville on a weekly basis.

The Community Health Center of Branch County is a non-profit acute care hospital providing access to safe, comprehensive, high quality healthcare services and accredited by The Joint Commission.  For more information about CHC, please call the CHC Marketing Department at 517-279-5282 or visit the CHC website at www.chcbc.com or health website at myhealth.chcbc.com.