John J. Pershing VA Medical Center has presented its first “BEE Award” to health aide Trameka Matthews.
The BEE Award stands for “Being Exceptional Every (Day)” and originated in 2019 at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System where it was designed to be the DAISY Award counterpart for nursing assistants and health technicians. The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center expanded the award to include health aides, medical instrument technicians and telehealth clinical technicians.
“We have the DAISY award for nurse practitioners, RNs and LPNs, but the DAISY cannot survive and thrive without the BEE and the BEE cannot survive and thrive without the DAISY,” said Associate Director for Patient Care Services Candy Miller. “It takes all of us to provide excellent care for our veterans, and I am pleased to recognize team members like Trameka, who is the epitome of customer service. Trameka consistently honors our veterans and staff by demonstrating our core values.”
Matthews is a health aide who completes COVID-19 screenings for individuals entering the medical center. She was nominated by an anonymous veteran patient, who said she makes patients feel welcome, makes the veteran laugh, and treats everyone with extraordinary kindness.
Matthews was stunned when presented with the award, saying, “When I realized that I had won this award, I was shocked, yet honored and humbled to know that I was nominated for doing something that I enjoy. I thank God for giving me the ability and the personality to help everyone feel welcomed when they enter John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.
“One of my favorite quotes is from the late Dr. Maya Angelou, ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ I am overjoyed to know that I am using my position and abilities to help make people feel good about entering the doors of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center.”