HealthStar Home Health has some pretty impressive employees with an extraordinary range of skills and backgrounds. From our Nurses and Caregivers in client homes providing one-on-one care, to our team of administrative professionals working “behind the scenes” to make sure operations are running smoothly, HealthStar has quite the team focused on providing the best care possible to our clients.
Today we recognize Jean Bartell, (newly promoted) Office Coordinator out of the Cass Lake office! Jean has become a staple of the Cass Lake office (she recently celebrated 5 years with HealthStar!). Coordinating initial and annual training for employees? Jean does it. Training clients and employees on the upcoming EVV system? Jean does it. Help get all employees paid each week? Jean does it. Answer the phone and greet visitors who enter the office? Jean does it. Keep client and employee files in tip-top shape? Jean does it. The Cass Lake office wouldn’t be what it is today without Jean and the extraordinary work she puts into supporting our clients AND employees. Which is why we are so excited to spotlight her this month!
Q: What do you do at HealthStar? What does a typical day look like for you?
A: I am employed with HealthStar as the Office Coordinator at our Cass Lake office. A typical day for me will be answering the phones, checking EVV timecards, assisting individuals that stop into the office for applications or looking for PCA services.
Q: Before working at HealthStar, what was the most interesting or unusual job you had?
A: I was employed as an Activity Director for 13 years at 2 different nursing homes and I literally lived and breathed that job, it was rewarding every time one of my residents smiled at the good times or memories of what had been could be relived or a family member was so thankful for what I had done for their parent.
Q: How has HealthStar helped in your career development?
A: HealthStar keeps me up to date with new software systems and always very encouraging as we go through the process.
Q: What advice would you have for candidates looking to work at HealthStar?
A: My advice for anyone applying to work here would be to remember that these are individuals we assist with and enable to stay at home and that everyone has their own life experiences and to respect how they live their life.
Q: What has been your favorite project you’ve worked on at HealthStar?
A: My absolute favorite project was the very first 24ECC I participated in here at the office and then went into the community to spread Joyfullness/Optimism. We did a Soup Kitchen making a delicious homemade very nutritious beef/vegetable/barley soup, bowled that up and went door to door giving out the soup with crackers. It was a very cold and snow on the ground day, yet we pulled our wagon and gave to everyone we saw until we ran out of soup. We handed out a flyer stating where we were from and that we were bringing them Joyfullness and Optimism. I remember clearly these men getting off a roof to come and get the soup and one guy asked if he could hug me he was so thankful for the hot soup. At the end of the day I felt like I had been a part of something great and it made me feel good to bring that to others.
Q: If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing (except money) what would it be and why?
A: A chauffeur for each day! I remember getting my license and begging to drive to the grocery store 4 blocks away just so I could drive, now it would be nice to let someone else do the driving…lol
Q: What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
A: I shaved all my hair off once just to be able to say that I had done it! Quite the experience waking up to that each day, however it was the best haircut I ever had.
Q: What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
A: I love spending time with my grandchildren, they are truly the loves of my life.
Q: What do you like most about your job at HealthStar?
A: That I have a job that I look forward to coming to everyday!
Q: If you were to skydive from an airplane, what would you think about on the way down?
A: I did this once, a tandem jump in Florida, it was all guys on the plane. laughing and joking and asking if I had any fear, I said to them “I’ve wanted to do this for so long, that fear is not a word”, it was such a rush at first with the force of the wind and then when he pulled the chute it was absolutely the most incredible experience of my life, so beautiful, crystal clear, breathtaking moment and I did not want it to end. I did have my jump videotaped and can still recall that feeling when I watch it.