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Carol Prieur, Registrar Admissions 26 years of service
Patients are given top "Prieur-ity" at West Side Medical Mall (WSMM) when they arrive at Carol Prieur's desk. As an Admissions Registrar, Carol focuses all her attention on each patient who sits in the chair opposite her in the Admissions area. She personally deals with 50-80 patients a day, but to Carol, it's 50-80 personal stories that unfold among the details of insurance, test scheduling, and diagnoses. "We like to make them feel like they (the patients) are the most important person here," she explained.
Carol said she believes Admissions to be on the "front line," because quite often Registrars may be the first face-to-face interaction that a patient has with the hospital. She recounted a poignant story of the time a patient arrived at Carol's desk to get registered for some upcoming tests, right after receiving a devastating diagnosis, and was understandably emotional. "I like to take care of people and make sure everything is OK," Carol said, noting that even though they aren't clinicians, Registrars can still be caregivers. "Everybody has a story," she pointed out.
"I love my job. I like to help people who are having trouble with their insurance, or their bills, or if they're feeling miserable I try to get them home," she explained. "I don't exist without them (the patients)."
Carol also believes patients appreciate having the West Side Medical Mall location because it provides access to so many services (CT, Ultrasound, MRI, Lab, Pain Management, Anticoagulation Clinic, Physical Therapy, as well as some physician offices) under one roof.
Among her co-workers, Carol is known as West Side Medical Mall's "go-to" person when things need to be fixed. Carol knows the contacts to call for quick fixes, whether it's a need for toilet paper or the front doors aren't working - she can usually figure out a way to keep things on an even keel until Maintenance arrives. All of the employees at WSMM are very close, so Carol likes to be of service however possible. "Pay it forward" is her motto. "I believe that we're put on this earth to make it a better place," she explained. "My whole family knows I believe in that."
And a sidenote: Carol will be trained in the new Paragon technology and will be designated a "super user" - someone who will train others on how to use the new system.
After hours, Carol dotes on her grandchild (and the one on the way) and immerses herself in taking photos of nature, which she has done since high school. And we picture that Carol's nature is a perfect fit for our patients: caring and focused on service excellence. Congratulations!
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