Pierce recognized
MARS HILL — The Maine Health Care Association is recognizing a TAMC employee for her role in providing excellent quality care to the Aroostook Health Center (AHC) community for more than 20 years.
Tee Pierce began working for TAMC in the food service department at AHC in Mars Hill in August of 1993, and now her exemplary work in her department has earned her an award in MHCA’s 2014 Celebrating Excellence Awards Program in the caregiving category. Pierce is among 17 award recipients statewide. She is somewhat unique in that many of the others selected work as nurses or assistants. 
“Tee Pierce is a very giving and thoughtful person. She left her family in Thailand and moved here more than 25 years ago, speaking little English. She pursued more education, got a driver’s license, and constantly looks to enrich her life and the lives of others,” said AHC Administrator Kelly Lundeen, RN. “She does many generous and kind acts. For many years she spent hours making homemade bread and took orders for egg rolls from staff in our facility. The money that she made was sent to her family in Thailand so that her brother’s children could have school clothes and pay for schooling.”
The Celebrating Excellence Awards are given in three categories: Caregiving for nursing and other disciplines; Innovative Programming; and Quality. According to the MHCA website, the Celebrating Excellence in Caregiving Award recognizes that all long-term care employees have the potential to make a significant positive difference in the lives of residents.
Pierce’s supervisors nominated her because she met or exceeded all of the nomination criteria, such as “must exemplify an extraordinary level of resident care and attention to resident rights,” and “is perceived as a leader among peers in promoting a positive environment in the care of residents,” and “must exhibit a work ethic that promotes resident quality of life and care.”
Pierce has touched many lives through her work. In addition to being a committed team player and willing to go the extra mile — even returning from a vacation early to fill in when the department was short staffed, — Pierce approaches her work with an unparalleled quality and professionalism.
“Tee is a huge asset to the food service department,” said Ally McQuade, AHC’s supervisor of food services. “She aims to please everyone she comes in contact with in the run of the day. She will do extras to brighten the day of everyone in the building by making smoothies, or dishing up ice cream. Her laugh is contagious in the halls of the nursing home. Tee possesses a keen attention to detail when fulfilling the needs of the residents when making nourishments, smoothies and milkshakes. She has mentored many new employees and assisted them with their training and in helping them to adapt to the new job immensely, creating job performance guidelines and being so helpful in showing them the duties first-hand.”
Colleagues say it’s the little things that Pierce does above and beyond her job description that make her extra worthy of this award.
“She has made grape jelly for our residents from our grape vines. On her birthday she brings in gifts for others, like egg rolls and lo mein, to celebrate the day with her. Most recently I heard that she buys treats for residents who need an extra bit of personal attention. For one resident, she leaves her cheese puffs on her plate in the dining room before her meal to encourage her to eat,” said Lundeen.
The number of stories showing how Pierce goes out of her way to exhibit her caring nature are countless.
Lundeen added, “Tee found out that we were all into making smoothies with fruits and veggies, so she started making them for staff and residents. We look forward to her days so that we have these. Tee volunteers to make homemade waffles for staff and residents during Nursing Home Week and on other special days. Tee is the kind of staff person who looks for ways to go above and beyond. She is the kind of staff person who makes your department stand out as something special.”
The presentation of the award will take place at a luncheon at the Augusta Civic Center on Friday, Sept. 26, but Pierce learned about the award surrounded by residents and her AHC work family at the Aroostook Health Center in a recent surprise announcement.
