Salinas Valley Health Environmental Services Aide Receives STAR Award

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

October 4, 2022 – Salinas Valley Health has a culture of excellence which includes the organizations STAR values, an acronym for Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect. A relatively recent addition to the Salinas Valley Health environmental services team is having a big impact with her demonstration of those core characteristics, earning Ana Torres-Garcia the coveted STAR award.

Ana joined Salinas Valley Health in November 2020 and in those two short years is gaining high praise among patients for her exceptional service. One patient and her husband have had repeated encounters with Ana and felt compelled to share their experiences with the Salinas Valley Health patient experience team.

The list of attributes speaks to Ana’s skills as well as her character. The couple generated a long list of compliments including the following:

• Anna is a wonderful person and a great housekeeper
• She is our housekeeper every time we are at this medical center
• She always checks in with me while she cleans my room, and asks how I’m doing
• Although Ana is not a nurse, she understands compassion and carries it in her character
• Ana has very high cleanliness standards and always leaves my room feeling fresh
• We wish we could take her home with us and befriend her
• If we ever see Ana in public, we are going to give her a hug
• Ana is a great asset to the hospital

Salinas Valley Health took note of the comments and agreed, presenting Ana with the September STAR Award. Many of Ana’s colleagues attended the award ceremony and congratulated her on recognition for her service to the Healthcare System’s patients, families and community.

Two additional Salinas Valley Health staff members also received recent nominations for the STAR Award. Those accolades for patient care go to Julie Crisostomo, Unit Assistant II in Telemetry and Myline Laurel, a Nurse Aide in Telemetry.

Every month, Salinas Valley Health recognizes two extraordinary employees, one with a DAISY Award (for nurses) and another with a STAR Award (for all staff). Nominations can be submitted by patients, visitors and staff. Nomination forms and drop boxes are located throughout the medical center and online. To learn more about the awards visit Nurse Recognition | Salinas Valley Health or STAR Award | Monterey County Health System (SalinasValleyHealth.com).