A model Employee of the Month is made up of team work, customer services, and leadership. Jill Duke exemplifies all those parts and more, which is why she was presented the Employee of the Month Award at CHC for March.

Jill was hired in August 31, 1987 as a Medical Lab Technologist on second shift.  Through the years Jill has also worked as a Medical Tech Chemistry Supervisor and is currently the Laboratory Supervisor.  She serves on the CHC Management Team, Products Analysis Committee, Meditech Implementation Committee, Community Fest Planning Committee, Recruitment and Retention Committee, and is the team leader of the Meditech order entry team.  According to her nominator, “Jill is a long term employee that consistently puts the hospital, patients, and staff first.  She is always willing to answer questions and help in any way she can.  Jill played a large role in the successful upgrade of the Meditech system.  She is conscientious about providing good leadership to her employees and leads by example.  I feel Jill deserves to be a CHC Employee of the Month!”

Jill graduated from Bronson High School in 1984.  She went on to receive her associate’s degree fromKelloggCommunity Collegein Medical Lab Technologist in 1986 and bachelor’s degree fromWesternMichiganUniversityin 1994.  In August of 1994 Jill became a ASCP Certified Medical Technologist.  She is currently attendingBakerCollegeand is due to receive her master’s degree in October 2011.  Jill has been married to Tom for 20 years.  Tom is an account executive for Swick Broadcasting at WBET inSturgis,MI.  Together they have three children, Haley, 19 years old; Brady, 15 years old; and Carly, 11 years old. 

Jill enjoys reading, playing games, doing music activities, and watching her children’s sports.  She is a member of St. Charles Catholic Church.  Jill is on the BACC Health Academy Selection Committee, Baker College of Jackson MLT Program Advisory Board, volunteers at Coldwater Public Schools, and presents at the CHC Diabetes Support Group.  Jill teaches part time for Baker College of Jackson at the Coldwater Campus.

The 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 over sight for point-of-care testing done by the 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 517-279-5008 or visit the CHC website at www.chcbc.com or health website at myhealth.chcbc.com.