Patient Experience Coordinator Receives STAR Award

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

Salinas Valley Health has recognized Jesus ‘Jesse’ Hernandez with the STAR Award for the compassionate care and service he provides patients. Jesse, as he prefers to be called, is a Patient Experience Coordinator for the Patient Experience Department who exemplifies the Salinas Valley Health STAR values- Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect. Jesse received the month of March STAR Award in a special ceremony at the medical center.

“Sometimes we are so focused on doing our job that we don’t realize how much of an impact we are making. It feels amazing to be recognized and reminded we are making a difference!” says Jesse Hernandez, Patient Experience Coordinator. “The Patient Experience team is a small close-knit group and we are always there for each other. I couldn’t ask for a better team to work with.”

Jesse joined Salinas Valley Health in February of 2019 and has been nominated two times for the STAR Award. In his most recent nomination, Amanda de Graca, former Annual Giving Manager expressed, “I took my son to the ER for an incident that happened at school and Jesse was amazing. He brought my son a bear and then let him try out the MRI simulator, which helped calm his anxiety.”

“I am honored and grateful to work with such a dynamic, flexible and professional team member. Jesse’s positive energy and can-do work ethic is appreciated by all,” says Cynthia Vargas, Manager, Patient Experience. “Jesse is well respected and has been recognized numerous times by patients and staff for his commitment to support our patients, families and staff. We are so fortunate to have Jesse on our team!”

Several outstanding employees received STAR Award nominations including Nancy Fonseca and Guadalupe Morales, nurse aides in Telemetry/5-T, and Garret Sabado, a Nurse Aide in Ortho/Neuro/Spine.