[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 85 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF ACHIEVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 1998

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, the quality of health care that people 
receive is most directly related to the skills and manner of the people 
providing the care. A kind word, a reassuring look, or a friendly touch 
can do as much to help speed along a person's recovery as can any 
medicine. The patients at Bay Medical Center have had the good fortune 
to have the professional leadership of more than 1,200 employees by 
Dorothy Watrous, the Vice President of Patient Care, who is retiring 
after seventeen years of service.
  During her time at Bay Medical, Dorothy Watrous has been credited 
with instituting many successful programs. She implemented Primary Care 
Nursing and Nursing Career Ladders, which have earned national praise 
as innovative and effective efforts. Dorothy has worked to provide 
educational opportunities for employees of the Center. She has also 
given back to the nursing profession through her work in developing an 
annual nursing scholarship program through Bay Medical Center for 
qualified students in the community.
  One of the most important actions on her part was to develop a 
flexible scheduling program that accommodated working mothers. Given 
the demands that medical staffs face, the ability to deal with the 
realities of family needs helped to provide a happier staff that could 
only make patients feel even better about the responsiveness of their 
care. She also provided strong encouragement to employees to pursue 
further education and move up to positions of greater responsibility.
  Having received both her Bachelor's and Masters of Science degrees in 
nursing from the University of Michigan, Dorothy Watrous went on to 
serve within the U.S. Public Health Service. She also has participated 
in many community service projects, including the Board of Directors 
for the Bay County Women's Center, and the Allocations Committee of 
United Way of Bay County. She also is the Vice Chairperson for the 
Board of Directors for Bay Medical Education, and on Advisory 
Committees for Bay-Arena Skill Center, Delta College, Saginaw Valley 
State University, and Great Lakes Junior College. She is an active 
member of the Bay City Presbyterian Church and Choir, the Saginaw Torch 
Club, and the Bay YWCA Week Without Violence Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, when an individual does so much for her profession and 
for her community, that person deserves to be lauded. While her day-to-
day presence will be missed, her efforts and initiatives will certainly 
continue to be of benefit to people for years to come. I ask you and 
all of our colleagues to join me in thanking Dorothy Watrous for her 
years of dedication, and in wishing her the very best for her 
retirement and all that lies ahead.

                          ____________________