Junction City, KS – Geary Community Hospital and Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) has announced that Ruth M. Dela Cruz of Geary Community Hospital is the winner of the 2021 Dan Wilford Award for Compassion and Community Service. Dela Cruz is the Laboratory Director for Geary Community Hospital.
“During this unprecedented pandemic year when many healthcare professional heroes stood out, Ruth demonstrated steadfast dedication and spearheaded COVID testing for their entire community,” said Jim Kendrick, president and CEO for CHC. “Ruth’s level of commitment to community service and the hospital, beyond daily concerns and ongoing operations, has been truly outstanding.”
The award, named after Dan Wilford, a founding CHC board member and retired CEO of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System of Houston, Texas, represents outstanding care and remarkable concern for a community and its local hospital. Dela Cruz was nominated for this prestigious, annual award by Kaye Marantett Chief Nursing Officer for Geary Community Hospital. Marantette shared, ”Ruth often forsakes her own needs to help make our hospital and community a healthier and safer place to live and work.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dela Cruz accepted oversight of the laboratory’s response for detecting COVID-19 infections. In March of 2020, the hospital collected its first COVID-19 specimen. In April of 2020, the hospital had a telephone hotline, drive-through testing, and multiple testing platforms.
Throughout the pandemic, the hospital had ample testing supplies, reagents, testing platforms and personal protective equipment. When several employees were absent, Dela Cruz personally prepared and delivered fresh meals for their families that often were large enough to last several days. She also assisted the Health Department, local businesses, detention facilities, nursing homes and pharmacies in their COVID-19 testing efforts.
Dela Cruz has served at Geary Community Hospital for 19 years and holds certification in Medical Technology (MT) through American Medical Technologists.