Sho-Ban THHS & Fort Hall IHS employees recognized at Portland Area IHS Directors Awards
Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Health & Human Services and the Not-tsoo Gah-nee Fort Hall Indian Health Service Clinic award recipients at the Portland Area IHS Directors Awards ceremony recognizing excellence on November 4.
FORT HALL — A number of Not-tsoo Gah-nee Fort Hall Indian Health Service employees were acknowledge at the Recognition of Excellence Ceremony November 4 in Portland.
Lorraine Eschief was given the 2019 Portland Area Directors Award for Fostering Relationships/Customer Service while Barbara Edmo was recognized for 2021 Customer Service.
2019 Portland Area Director’s Award went to Robert Burns and Marlo Naljahih. 2020 award went to Nolan Broncho and Jamie Furniss. 2021 award went to Shirley Alvarez and Alicia Wrablik.
Portland Area Director’s Award for COVID-19 Pandemic Heroism in 2020 went to Shirley Alvarez, Miqueline Davis and Alicia Wrablik. 2021 award went to CAPT Lori Snidow.
2019 Group Awards: Portland Area Director’s Award: Fort Hall Service Unit HIM Technicians. Also Fort Hall Service Unit Flu Vaccine Task Force, Facilities Department, Facilities and Housekeeping, along with Team Hound Dog. 2021 Group Awards Portland Area Directors Award: Fort Hall Service Unit Vaccine Tracking Team.
2021 Portland Area Director’s Award for COVID-19 Pandemic Heroism: Fort Hall Service Unit Dental Team and Nursing Team.
Portland Area Director’s Leadership Awards: 2019: CAPT Lori Snidow, DDS. She also won a national award.
Length of Service recognition: 30 years in 2021: Vicki Baldwin and 2022 Melissa Hevewah.
Sho-Ban Tribal Health and Fort Hall IHS employees at the awards ceremony on
November 4 in Portland.
Sho-Ban THHS employees receive Recognition of Excellence awards
FORT HALL — Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Health & Human Services employees were recognized at the Portland Area Director’s Awards 2019-2021 November 4 in Portland.
The Portland Area Director recognizes individuals or groups of employees whose special efforts and contributions, beyond regular duty requirements, have resulted in significant benefits to Indian Health Service (IHS) programs, priorities, or customers and fulfillment of the IHS mission. Nominations are submitted based on the nature of the act, service, or performance occurring in calendar year.
Katie Denny, former Purchased and Referred Care manager and Travis Martin, THHS data analyst, quality improvement coordinator were give the Individual Director’s Awards.
It’s awarded for exceptional initiative and leadership in carrying out projects to improve program operations; unusual acts of competence, compassion, or heroism; outstanding contributions to a committee or task force addressing, IHS-wide policies, procedures, or operations; Outstanding efforts in applying technical or clerical support skills to accomplish the IHS mission, Skill and leadership in administration, knowledge dissemination, technology transfer, or skill building; Displays of management ability, proficiency, and customer service performed in such a manner that the employee and/or team performed significantly above those with similar duties, and that the results of these efforts were distinctly beneficial to the Agency; In all cases, performance should clearly exceed expectations.
THHS Director Sunny Stone said Travis has been with THHS a short time and “I’m not sure how we have ever functioned without him. His expertise and leadership has improved the way we provide care and collect data at Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Health and Human Services.”
Individual Leadership Awards — Taitum DeGarmo, THHS Finance Officer and Sandy Jackson, eligibility/audit specialist were presented the awards.
Stone said Taitum DeGarmo's leadership before and during the COVID-19 pandemic is exemplary. “She has lead THHS into a financially secure future, implemented programs benefiting the community, and provides staff with recognition for the work they do.”
Brown said Jackson's efforts in developing and coordinating new prescription ordering policies and procedures with local area pharmacies saved the Purchased / Referred Care Program significant funding annually. The award is given for demonstrated leadership; Achievements with the potential to make a positive difference in the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native people.
Sunny Stone was presented the Individual COVID-19 Pandemic Heroism Award. It’s for exceptional initiative and leadership in carrying out COVID-19 activities or projects to improve the quality of care and the service delivery processes; innovative efforts to solve problems/address issues that related to the COVID-19 pandemic; unusual acts of competence, compassion, or heroism during the COVID-19 pandemic
Stone has shown exceptional dedication and selfless response to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ Tribal Health and Human Services Department and Fort Hall community during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Group Portland Area Director’s Award for Fostering Relationships 2019 was presented to the Shoshone-Bannock Purchased Referred Care Program: THHS applauds the efforts of our PRC Staff for working toward helping fulfill our Mission at THHS in delivering quality services.
Katie Denny, manager; Wanda Dixey, administrative assistant; Alicia Osborne, referral coordinator; Sandy Jackson, eligibility/audit specialist; Juanita Kaiyou, office technician; Delphina Gould, patient advocate and Christina Rodriguez, support staff.
Group Awards – Portland Area Director’s Award for COVID-19 Pandemic Heroism 2020-2021 was given for exceptional initiative and leadership in carrying out COVID-19 activities or projects to improve the quality of care and the service delivery processes; innovative efforts to solve problems/address issues that related to the COVID-19 pandemic; unusual acts of competence, compassion, or heroism during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shoshone-Bannock Health and Human Services:
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the health entities on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation took extraordinary steps and created a collaboration previously unseen in Indian Country. A collaborative agreement was signed with Indian Health Services, Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Health and Human Services, and the Shoshone-Bannock Community Health Center all agreeing to respond collectively to this public health emergency.
THHS Administration: Sunny Stone, THHS Director; Tino Batt, Administrative Officer/Privacy Officer; Norma Wadsworth, BS, Administrative Officer/Privacy Officer; Taitum DeGarmo, THHS Finance Officer; Velma Arriwite, Executive Assistant; Travis Martin, BS, MBA, Data Analyst; Rodger Allen, IT Administrator/HIPAA Compliance Officer; Isaac Percy, IT Network System Specialist/ HIPAA Security Officer; Donna Thompson, COVID-19 Coordinator; Feliciana Fullmer, COVID-19 worker; Ramontha Rodriguez, COVID-19 worker; Jamie Jim, COVID-19 worker; Polly Hevewah, COVID-19 worker; Niyomi Oliva, COVID-19 worker; Carla Arellano, COVID-19 worker; Shondiin Farmer, COVID-19 worker; Chasen Coby, COVID-19 worker; Karl Farmer, COVID-19 worker; Billyzane Coby, COVID-19 worker; Jamar Johnson, COVID Temp Door Screener; Community Health Services (CHS): Elizabeth Moss, CHS Manager; Evelyn Small, Receptionist; Chantelle Bowman, PA-C Physician Assistant; Wiley Petersen, PA-C, Physician Assistant; Nancy Wahtomy, Patient Navigator; Georgina Marshall, RN; Hallie Turner, RN; Dakota Howell, COVID Technician; Nikki Ward, LPN, Clinical Nurse; Khem Millward, CMA, Clinical Medical Assistant.
Community Health Representatives (CHR): Jason Butler, CHR Manager; Della Francene Two Bulls, Receptionist/CHR Generalist; Tula Galloway, CHR Generalist; Kayla Marshall, CHR Generalist; Evan Hardy, CHR Generalist; Tia Buckskin, CHR Generalist.
Counseling and Family Services (CFS): Krissy Broncho, CFS Manager; Annie Bacon, LCSW, Behavioral Health Clinician; Tammy Mosho, Administrative Assistant; Qunine Rodriguez, Receptionist; Melissa Syria, LCPC, BH Specialist; Ken Dudley, LCPC BH Specialist; Dan Hall, Adult/Juvenile Justice Clinician; Stan Rhodes, Youth Prevention Advocate; Akaila Martin, Suicide Prevention Clinician; Louisa Kindle, Medical Social Worker; Alice Pierce, LSW, COVID Case Manager; Tina Hensley, LMSW, Case Therapist.
Diabetes: Sunny Stone, Diabetes Manager; Erin Brownley, RDLD, CDE, MPH, Diabetes Nutritionist; Kevin Pendlebury, RN-CDE Diabetes Educator; Kaylonnie Bache, Diabetes Care Coordination Assistance.
Fort Hall Recreation: Mike Sakelaris, Recreation Manager; Eddy Kniffin, Program Supervisor; Robert Johnson, Facilities Engineer.
Four Directions Treatment Center (FDTC): Donna Honena, FDTC Manager; Elmarie Snipe, Administrative Assistant; Sandra Ortiz, MSW, CADC; Lemuel Stone, CADC, Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor; Christy Forkenbrock, MA, LPC, ACADC, CCTSI, Advanced Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor; Dale Conder, Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor; Rainelle Edmo, Alcohol & Drug Counselor; Ranelda Stone, Recovery Coach; Eleena Eldridge, CPRC Recovery Coach.
Health Education: Rebecca Washakie, HE Manager; Tammy Scott, Health Educator and Amanda Martin, HE Technician.
Purchased and Referred Care: Katie Denny, Manager; Wanda Dixey, Administrative Assistant; Alicia Osborne, Referral Coordinator; Sandy Jackson, Eligibility/Audit Specialist; Juanita Kaiyou, Office Technician; Delphina Gould, Patient Advocate; Christina Rodriguez, Support Staff; Loni Johnson, Medical Coder Technician; Connie Farmer, Medical Coder Technician; Talisa Johnson, COVID Technician.
Victim’s Assistance Program: Audrey Jim, VAP Manager;Wanda Appenay, Court Advocate;
Matthew West, Legal Advocate; Germaine Yazzie, Shelter Advocate; Tahnee Jim, VAP Program Assistant; Sharene Arriwite, Domestic Abuse Advocate.
Shoshone-Bannock Purchased and Referred Care: To the Shoshone-Bannock Purchased Referred Care Program for progressive development of ICD-10 Covid-19 specific claim data reporting; Simplifying Cares Act monies reimbursement to program and Covid-19 data sharing within Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Government. Katie Denny, Manager; Wanda Dixey, Administrative Assistant; Alicia Osborne, Referral Coordinator; Sandy Jackson, Eligibility/Audit Specialist; Juanita Kaiyou, Office Technician; Delphina Gould, Patient Advocate and Christina Rodriguez, Support Staff.
Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Health and Human Services Information Technology: The THHS IT staff have been dedicated to making many improvements to our THHS internal network system during challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their leadership abilities to work with over 80 staff by keeping computers updated and running has been outstanding. Rodger Allen, IT Administrator/HIPAA Compliance Officer and Isaac Percy, IT Network System Specialist/ HIPAA Security Officer.
