East Washingtonian - Your Hometown News Source

POMEROY––Garfield County Hospital District is proud to announce Anna Wessels as Employee of the Year, Certified Phlebotomist, Laboratory Technician.

Anna was voted Employee of the Month in August, and previously in May of 2020. She shares this coveted Employee of the Year award with another co-worker, Travis McFarland, who is also a two-time Employee of the Month winner. Both were awarded with plaques commemorating this outstanding achievement.

She was nominated by her co-workers who state, "She is always willing to help out whenever she can." Anna is originally from Pomeroy but move to Dayton when she was a year old. She attended grade school at Dayton Elementary and then in 2010, her family relocated back to Garfield County where she graduated in 2019.

Her earliest work experience began with babysitting jobs. Coming from a large family, taking care of children came naturally as she is the second youngest of ten. She also had various part time jobs throughout the summer during her high school years.

After graduation, Anna became employed at the hospital in August, 2019, working as a housekeeper in Environmental Services. Among her normal job duties in this position, Anna was asked to take on extra tasks which she did willing. "She is good about helping when asked without hesitation. She goes the extra mile, above and beyond," coworkers say.

After two years, she decided to make a career change to become part of the lab staff. "I had always thought about becoming a phlebotomist," she said, and when the opportunity for a lab tech position opened in the Laboratory Department, she jumped at it.

Anna applied to Walla Walla Community College in April of 2021 and was accepted in the spring quarter. Three days a week, she trained with the Department Supervisor learning the technical lab processes of the various duties, drawing blood, running the tests, and processing orders in the computer system. Two days a week she drove to Walla Walla to attend classes and she was one of the few, if not only student, who had hands-on training in the lab field. Because of this, drawing blood was not a challenge but came easy to her. Anna excelled in her classes, receiving one of the highest-grade averages among her fellow classmates and graduated in June, 2021, as a Washington Certified Phlebotomist.

She is a wonderful asset to our hospital and a great employee. Her supervisor said of Anna, "She is a team player, does extra without prompting and a joy to work with." Other managers have said "She takes ownership in her position, steps up to the plate wherever asked without question and does it with a positive attitude." Her co-workers agree that one of her best attributes is her optimistic and confident demeanor. "Anna always has a smile on her face even on hard days. She is wonderful with patients and staff. "

When asked what she like best about her job, she replied, "I like that I get to help people and care for the patients." Her accomplishments have been an inspiration for the staff and family members. Her younger sister, Tiffany, also joined the GCHD Lab Team in January, 2022, coming from an EMT background. Anna had the privilege of training her sister, who became a Certified Phlebotomist in June of 2022.

Anna also became interested in volunteering for local Fire Department, riding as a third on the ambulance which she did for a year. She enjoyed this so much that she signed up for the Columbia Safety Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) classes, starting in December, 2022, and achieved her EMT Certificate this month.

Here future goal is to one day obtain her national EMT certification. Please join us in congratulating Anna for her hard work and dedication to being an extraordinary employee!