Judged to be the best

Jody Goldsboro doesn’t perform her work with a goal of winning awards or receiving other types of recognition. In fact, she shies away from that type of thing.

For Goldsboro, she feels best about her job when she knows that her Home Health clients are getting the best care possible.
But it’s exactly that attitude and work ethic that spurred Fayette County Health Department Administrator Rhonda Andrews to nominate Goldsboro for an award.
And the judge for the contest agreed with Andrews’ assessment in choosing Goldsboro for that award.
At a conference in Springfield earlier this month, Goldsboro was named the Home Care Employee of the Year by Home Care Across Illinois, a non-profit organization made up of health departments in the state that provide home care.
Goldsboro joined the health department staff as a home health nurse in 1990, after stints with Fayette County Hospital, Friendship Manor Nursing Home in St. Elmo and Dr. Larry Lambert.
She was named the director of the health department’s Home Health Division in October 1998.
As director, Goldsboro oversees the FCHD employees who deliver health services to recovering, disabled or chronically ill people in their homes.
Those services includes traditional professional nursing and home care aide services, as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and medical social services.
In nominating Goldsboro, Andrews said, “Jody has a passion for home nursing that surpasses others.”
That passion dates back to when she was a student at Vandalia Community High School, when she decided to enroll in the health occupations class at the Okaw Area Vocational Center.
“I always wanted to help people, and it (nursing) seemed like a good career,” Goldsboro said.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she said.
Goldsboro said she was “surprised” upon learning that she had won the award, but emphasized that it isn’t that kind of recognition that drives her in her job.
“I just want to focus on helping other people, trying to see that we serve our clients and treat them in the best way possible,” she said.
Talking about the purpose of home care, Goldsboro said, “Getting well at home, in the comfort of family surroundings, is not only more pleasant, but often more effective.”
The home health staff that Goldsboro oversees at the health department included nine registered nurses, a licensed practical nurse and two certified nurse assistants/home health aides.
Andrews said that having watched Goldsboro at work, she thought that the long-time FCHD employee qualified as the top home care employee in Illinois.
“She wants to do the best job possible for her clients,” Andrews said.
In the nomination letter, Andrews said about Goldsboro, “Jody emulates warmth, humility and compassion to both the patients and her staff.
“Jody has a passion that surpasses others. She is one of the first employees in the building in the morning and is almost always the last to leave in the evening,” Andrews said in her letter.
“She is never a person to complain or speak poorly of anyone,” the nomination letter states.
Talking last week about Goldsboro, Andrews said, “She is one of the best employees I have ever worked with.
“She is so kind and so patient,” she said.