Oestreicher Service Recognition Awards totaling $5,000 were presented recently to 22 employees of Rowan Regional Medical Center.

The awards were part of an Employee Appreciation Program begun by Rowan Regional Medical Center trustee and benefactor Irvin Wallace Oestreicher and his wife, Bert. The Oestreichers, both deceased, donated $200,000 in 1988 to establish the program. The Oestreichers’ daughter, Rachel Oestreicher Bernheim, and her husband, Charles A. Bernheim, now carry on the family tradition and fund the annual Oestreicher Recognition Awards that range from $100 to $500.

Winners of the $500 Oestreicher Awards for 2006 are Michelle Fife, central distribution, Rowan Regional Medical Park; Lillie Harrell, environmental services; Henrietta Johnson, food and dietary Services; and Wilburn McDaniel, facilities services.

The $250 winners are Cathie Carroll, transportation; Kay Chunn, central processing; Tillie Jackson, linen distribution; Stephanie Kennedy, surgical services; Renetta McNeely, central processing; Jacqueline Mills, medical services; Mary Roseboro, environmental services; and John Sifford, environmental services.

The $100 winners are Kady Brown, materials management; Teressa Davidson, food and dietary services; Johnny Freeman, facilities services; Audie Gonzales, health information management; Robin Johnson, emergency services; Sandra Leach, women’s and children’s services; Willie Miller, environmental services; Angela Rushing, coronary care unit; Crystal Swaney, laboratory; and Renee Upright, business office.

The winners also were recognized at the medical center’s annual holiday event held last week.

Oestreicher, born in 1900, was a founding member of the Rowan Regional Medical Center Board of Directors. He served on the board for more than 60 years until his death in October 1997.

The Oestreichers funded the Whitehead McKenzie Medical Library, the Frank B. Marsh Coronary Care Unit, the recovery room, the operating room and other programs for patients at the medical center.

Bert Oestreicher, who died in 1999, was involved with the Rowan Regional Medical Center Auxiliary since its earliest years. She was its president in 1958 and helped create Rowan Regional’s Hospitality Shop, which opened in 1952. Formed in 1936, the Auxiliary works to help raise funds and promote better community relations for the medical center.

“My husband, Charles Bernheim, and I are pleased to honor the memory of our parents, Bert and Irvin Oestreicher,” said Rachel Oestreicher Bernheim. “Mother and Dad set up this fund because they deeply appreciated the compassion, kindness and loving care given by the medical center staff to all who walk through Rowan Regional’s doors. They would especially appreciate the medical center’s new patient tower and emergency department because of all the services this facility provides to the local community.

“The Oestreicher Fund acknowledges and shows appreciation for the service of staff members who are part of the Rowan Regional Medical Center family.”

“The medical center is grateful for the generous support of the Oestreicher-Bernheim family,” said Charles W. Elliott, chief executive officer. “Their contributions and support over the years have made a lasting and positive impact on Rowan Regional and its employees.”

Multi-Wall awards

Fourteen employees were recognized for their years of service, ranging from five to 20 years, during Multi-Wall Packaging Corp.’s holiday celebration last week.

The service award program is the company’s way of recognizing and rewarding employees for their dedication and commitment to the company. Recipients are:

20 years: Janice Taylor.

15 years: Brenda Moore.

10 years: Amelia Bautista, Rosario Bautista, Juana Bautista, Joel Camacho, Maria Cruz-Guerrero and Rojelio Hernandez.

Five years: Rigoberto Carrillo, Lucina Cruz-Guerrero, Marina Delgado-Guerrero, Keith Kushner, Azuncena Martinez-Hernandez and Chris Wagner.

Gentiva recognition

Gentiva Home Health Services has been selected as one of the 2006 HomeCare Elite, the inaugural compilation of the most successful home care providers in the nation.

The review names the Medicare-certified agencies whose performance measures in quality, improvement and financial performance are among the top 25 percent of providers nationwide.

Mary Repsher, Gentiva branch director, credited the “excellent clinical and administrative staffs’ dedication to quality of care and performance” for the recognition.

Also, Repsher announced that Susan Wear, Gentiva’s account executive, raised more than $1,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. This money will send a child to a MDA summer camp and enable children to receive clinic visits and flu shots.

Linda Braswell compiles the Rowan Roundup of companies, organizations and individuals. You can submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to her at the Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639; fax it to 704-639-0003; or e-mail lbraswell@ salisburypost.com. Please include a daytime phone number.