Ogle more than 'just a nurse'

Mercy Home Care Director Becky Davied (seated, center left) presents Wanda Ogle, a registered nurse at the facility, with the health care agency's Employee of the Year award for 2009. Several of Ogle's coworkers joined her for a small award ceremony and photograph Wednesday at the center. (Jason E. Silvers/Tribune) [Click to enlarge]

Ogle, a registered nurse at Mercy Home Care since 1992, was honored by her colleagues and the Mercy organization by receiving the Mercy Home Care agency's Employee of the Year award for 2009.

In celebration of the service's 35th anniversary and National Homecare Month in November, home health patients, coworkers and community members were invited to nominate and vote for staff members for the employee of the year award.

While surrounded by several of her coworkers Wednesday, Ogle said she was "shocked" when she learned she had received the award.

"These girls are what makes it happen, it's not me," she said. "I thought, 'Somebody's got this wrong. I'm just a nurse.' I like working with people ... I don't get into the business side of it."

Nominations for the award were open to all home care staff, including nurses, physical therapists, aides and office staff.

"We were pleasantly surprised to receive a large return of nominations from our home care patients," Mercy Home Care Director Becky Davied said. "Almost every nomination had a special comment about the employee they were voting for sharing how important that employee is or had been to them."

Ogle has served the Mercy organization for 36 years and has "touched the lives of many people within the community," Davied said.

"She makes each patient her top priority and over and over again is described as caring and compassionate,' Davied said. "Mercy Home Care is very fortunate to have Wanda as part of our team, and we are excited to present her this honor."

Many of the nominations received for the award noted that Ogle "... can relate to people right where they are at. She accepts them and makes the best of any situation."

Mercy Home Care provides medical care to individuals of varying ages -- from infants to senior citizens -- in their own homes, and works to be part of the patient's emotional and physical healing process. Nurses and therapists develop connections with their patients and look at all aspects of the patient's care.

The agency, located in the Mercy Health Center Medical Plaza, 902 S. Horton St., has provided services for residents in Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Crawford, Neosho, Linn and southern Miami counties since 1974. Services are provided by registered nurses, physical therapists, home health aides, speech therapists, and social workers.

For more information on Mercy Home Care services, call (620) 223-8091.