(L-R) Polly Syc-Vega received the Battle Creek Health System 2008-2009 Annual Outstanding Recognition Award from BCHS President & CEO Denise Brooks-Williams. Syc-Vega was recognized for a postpartum program she initiated for the hospital.

BCHS Associates Honored

More than 250 Battle Creek Health System associates were honored recently-- one for her advocacy on behalf of patients dealing with postpartum depression and the others for years of service (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years) as part of the annual BCHS associate recognition celebration.

Polly Syc-Vega, a charge nurse in the BCHS Family Birth Center, received the BCHS 2008-2009 Annual Outstanding Recognition Award.

Syc-Vega works closely with mothers who experience postpartum depression. Since she had experienced this condition herself, she knew there were limited resources available for new mothers to deal with these types of issues. So she decided to find as much information as she could about this topic, and as a result created a process within the BCHS Family Birth Center for screening all new mothers for indicators that could lead to problems later and arranged a way to make referrals. She learned how to set up a support group, the first one in Calhoun County. And she did all this with her own finances. Syc-Vega took this initiative one step further by mentoring and educating hospital patients on postpartum mood disorders. She also sought out avenues of financial support through granting agencies to fund this program.

In addition to this honor, Syc-Vega was also a 2009 Battle Creek Enquirer 'George Award' winner for the same initiative.

Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. with 21 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission. Battle Creek Health System is a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm) and 2009 Five Star rated for joint replacement surgery and total knee replacement. HealthGrades is a leading health care information company that provides objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the community and promotes wellness for the whole person with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical information, visit the BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.

More News