Posted on September 16, 2024
We continue our TidalHealth series “Grow With Us” and our September visit with Sandy Andrews, EMR Analyst II with Information Services.
Sandy’s career with TidalHealth goes back to her high school days when as a student at Mardela High School, she was hired into the Food & Nutrition Department to deliver food trays to patients. That “foot in the door” has led to a remarkable almost three decades of advancement, leadership and training team members in the use of Epic technologies across the health system. However, it’s the giving spirit that people will probably cherish most about Sandy.
Monthly, we’ll introduce you to team members, like Sandy, who began their career at TidalHealth and advanced in the health system and beyond, and/or who have taken their careers to the next level with significant certifications and achievements.
Here’s Sandy’s “Grow With Us” story.
Thanks, Sandy, for the opportunity to grab a few minutes from your busy schedule and to learn more about your career at TidalHealth. To get us going, how about introducing yourself to our readers by telling us about where you’re from, where you grew up, what brings you happiness in life…you know, the good stuff!
I am originally from the Western Shore of Maryland, born in Carroll County. My parents moved to Hebron just before my 16th birthday. Besides my faith in Jesus Christ and following Him, spending time with my family and church family is what I enjoy the most. My husband Craig and I have two children and four grandchildren ranging from ages 16 to just under 2. Our daughter Aubrie also works for TidalHealth at Cardiology South, and my daughter-in-law Brittany works standby for the Lab at TidalHealth Nanticoke. Our son Kent and son-in-law Lenny both work for companies providing assistive equipment for patients/clients.
Definitely a medically motivated family! Tell us about your start at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional (then Peninsula Regional Medical Center) which I understand begins with you still in high school in Mardela Springs.
I originally began working for Peninsula Regional Medical Center in 1980 in Food Service prepping and delivering patient trays, washing dishes, etc. I worked there until after graduation/marriage.
And what’s this I hear that during the job, you met your husband Craig through a friend who also worked with you? That’s pretty wild.
I met my sister-in-law Amanda while working in Food Service and she introduced me to my husband on a blind date on my 17th birthday. I married him before my 18th birthday. We will be married 43 years on September 19, 2024.
Congratulations on reaching that milestone! When you think about it, that’s a pretty big step for a kid to take—both marriage and first job. There are much easier and less stressful first jobs than working for a big hospital and having to interact with so many different people each day. What inspired you then…other than Craig, of course!?
My father was a psych nurse and my mother a medical secretary. The medical field was a natural course for me to take. In my early teens my mother worked in volunteer services at a hospital for those with intellectual disabilities and I volunteered over 700 hours by the time I was 15. I was just naturally drawn to it.
You must have loved it because here we are nearly 30 years later and you’re still with TidalHealth. I’m always amazed by the number of people who are employed here for 30, 40, 50 or even 60 years before they retire. What is it about this company and this team?
I have been blessed to be able to grow and excel through Peninsula Regional/TidalHealth, making lifelong friends, learning new skills, and hopefully having a positive impact on the lives of patients/caregivers…though definitely from the background.
That’s a great point, I know what you mean “from the background” as it relates to helping people not at the bedside, not in a really visible role…but being equally important in the overall patient care experience. So, walk me through what you did at our Salisbury hospital after graduating from high school and moving on from Food & Nutrition.
After graduation, I transferred to Respiratory working as a secretary and completing oxygen rounds (changing masks, etc). It was there when I was asked if I was willing to learn transcription, which I had some experience doing by transcribing meeting notes.
After working in Respiratory for a couple of years I left Peninsula Regional. After a short stint as the secretary for the old Salisbury Mall (really dating myself there), I began working for Drs. Gallaher & Gray for 6 ½ years as a transcriptionist/surgical scheduler, etc.
After taking a break after my daughter was born, I then worked part-time for OB/GYN Associates and eventually made my way back to the Salisbury hospital in Medical Records as a transcriptionist on September 19, 1994, which also coincided with my 13th wedding anniversary.
After several years I transitioned from transcriptionist to transcription manager, a position I held for over 11 years prior to making the change to Epic Analyst in 2015.
When you moved on, although gone a number of years, that “medical bug” that bit you early in life never you, did it?
I was actually gone from the physical hospital around 9 years. I quickly realized after leaving Peninsula Regional that I preferred the medical field, so I applied to the OB/GYN office of Dr. Gallaher & Dr. Gray. It was a wonderful experience. I still occasionally will see some of the ladies I used to work with there. I left to be a stay-at-home mom when my daughter Aubrie was born.
What I think is incredibly selfless, and knowing Dr. Gray I’m not surprised, is that “he” told you about a transcription job back at the hospital and encouraged you to apply. Why, and how did that make you feel?
Dr. Gray was not only my physician but had also become a trusted friend. It was Dr. Gray and Dr. Eisemann who delivered both of my children. When it became necessary to get a part-time job to supplement our income, Dr. Gray recommended me for a position at OB/GYN Associates where I would compile/complete discharge summaries for the patients of all the OB/GYN physicians. Eventually they had me dictating them instead and the Peninsula Medical Records transcriptionists were transcribing my dictations. Peninsula Regional ultimately made me an offer to come on full time as a transcriptionist…and the rest is history.
And from there, you would work your way up to managing the team of 20 transcriptionists. What inspired that move to a leadership role?
I have always loved working with people and helping guide the team towards providing/maintaining accurate and complete documentation, which is essential in the medical record, for billing purposes, etc.
Eventually, as the need for transcription became less necessary at the hospital, you saw an outstanding opportunity with the Epic Team. Tell us about that transition and where you are now.
To be honest, I was ready for a change. It can be quite a challenge to manage a team, and I have great respect for all who do it. I wanted to be a part of the team building for the new EMR and learning new skills.
In that role, what are your primary responsibilities?
Currently I am an EMR Analyst II providing support (with 2 others) for the Epic Health Information Management applications (Hospital Coding, Provider Deficiency Tracking, Release of Information, and Identity), as well as System Admin for both the One Content Document Management System, and 3M-360 Encompass Coding/Clinical Documentation System.
Love it?
I truly love what I do and the people that I work with. I also enjoy being able to work from home.
Is it tough to self-motivate when you have a job that allows you to stay home and work from your living room, kitchen, office?
Thankfully I have an office and at this stage in my life, it is not difficult at all for me to be motivated, especially when you enjoy your job and have minimal distractions. My husband is retired, so he helps with all of the daily tasks that can distract at home. I worked briefly at home as a transcriptionist when my children were still at home and husband was working, it was a bit more challenging then for me.
Your sister-in-law, Joy, an RN with us, was the person who brought you to our attention. She told us about the tragic loss of her son, Brandon, when he was just 37. She wanted us to know that as remarkable a team player as you are for TidalHealth, you’re an even better all-around person. You donated PTO to Joy following the loss of her son so she could have the time she needed to grieve and get through that process. I know it’s difficult to speak about yourself, but I think that’s incredibly special. Would you say that defines the type of person you are, and if so, where does that come from? Don’t be shy.
I must point everything back to my faith in Jesus Christ and a desire to live a life that would honor and be pleasing to Him. His love for me and truly favor shown to me all my life is so evident to me, and I can only hope that I can extend that love and favor to others in the same way. The Golden Rule…treat others as you would expect them to treat you. You can never be wrong.
Often, in these stories, we speak about people who have advanced themselves through outside education, but you have achieved tremendous success and have contributed remarkably to this healthcare team without a college education. I will be quick to make the argument for you that “on the job” training is just as important, and you’re proof of that. Agree?
I would have to agree with that however, you also must have a passion to work hard and do your best, even when no one can see you do it. I’ve had some outstanding people assist me along the way and it’s been a great honor to learn from them and to apply those best practices they have shared with me.
Get you out on this one Sandy because I love asking this question…if you could go back and do it all over again, would you change anything…other than Craig, of course!?
No. We are all given opportunities and circumstances in our lives, and the questions to always be answered are what will we do with them or have done with them over your career and personal life. I have been blessed and am still blessed, and through the challenges I have had I have grown and hopefully become a better employee/coworker, friend, and follower of the Christ.