Double STAR Award for ER Social Workers

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

January 29, 2024 – The fast paced environment of emergency medicine takes teamwork at every level and two social workers at Salinas Valley Health received duel STAR Awards for their valuable contributions.Lauren Stroud, MS, LCSW and Guillermo Rodriguez, MSW, CADC II are the latest recipients of that honor and play integral roles in addressing the opioid and fentanyl crisis.

"We are so fortunate to have both Lauren and Guillermo working alongside our talented Emergency Department staff,” says Kimberly De Serpa, LCSW, ACM, CMAC, Social Services Manager in Case Management. “They are not only social workers but also specialize in substance use disorder and help families navigate the complexities of accessing care and providing harm reduction."

The STAR Award represents the organizations core values of Support, Teamwork, Accountability and Respect.The two STAR standouts are relatively new to the Salinas Valley Health team and are helping to address the rise in fentanyl laced overdoses and substance use disorder. Lauren joined Salinas Valley Health in August 2022 and Guillermo was hired in December 2020.

Social workers support patients and families at Salinas Valley Health and are part of a case management team trained in best long-term outcomes that may require additional resources after a patient is discharged. The nominations for Lauren and Guillermo praised their ability to connect with everyone involved with a patient’s case, identify areas of concern and outreach to secure community resources to support patients and their families.

“It is a pleasure to see when the support from social work benefits the family and our patient,” says Mike Isaacs, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, Clinical Nurse Educator in Emergency Services. “Those efforts work in collaboration with what the doctors and nurses are doing. It’s a whole person approach to care."

Other STAR nominations for the month include Lindsay Howie Gamino, Sonographer IV, Ultrasound; Arnold Faytaren, Transport/Prep Aide, Transport/Spec Procedures; Ramon Vega Vazquez, Nurse Aide, Observation Care Unit; Luz Rosas, Environmental Services Aide, ES; Lizandra Lopez, Tech Assistant II – Radiology, DI; and Garret Sabado, Nurse Aide, ONS.

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 hospital and online. To learn more about the awards visit SalinasValleyHealth.com/nomination.