Taylor, Loescher named Healthcare Heroes

Lucy Taylor and Janine Loescher were named the 2010 Healthcare Heroes on January 23 at the Fallbrook Healthcare District’s annual Community Collaborative Breakfast held at Fallbrook Public Utility District.

Taylor was introduced by healthcare district director Hollis Moyse, accompanied by 2009 award recipient Don Luallin, of the Fallbrook Food Pantry. Moyse described all the qualities that Taylor has demonstrated to be worthy of the honor.

“[Lucy Taylor] possesses in abundance all of the qualities that I feel justify this honor,” said Moyse. “A longtime member of the community of Fallbrook, she has labored diligently in a variety of ways to make this a better community for all of us and has done so without any expectation of public acknowledgment or praise.”

Moyse explained that Taylor, a well-known volunteer, has been a member of the Fallbrook Hospital Auxiliary since 1983 and has provided service to local citizens in a variety of ways, both within the hospital and throughout the community.

“As a volunteer chaplain, she regularly counsels patients in both the hospital and the Skilled Nursing Facility and lessens their fears or concerns of what the future may bring,” said Moyse. In addition, Taylor has volunteered her time to the auxiliary’s courier service and provided transportation to residents in need of assistance getting to or from their healthcare-related needs.

Moyse detailed an occasion where Taylor was transporting a patient to an appointment in Temecula when he went into cardiac arrest. “At that time, the van did not have a cell phone allowing the driver to call for assistance, so [Taylor] took the initiative, drove to the edge of Interstate 15 and proceeded to give the patient CPR until he was stabilized enough to continue on to the hospital for further assistance.”

As an added gesture of kindness toward the working members of the healthcare community, Taylor rises at 4 a.m. six days a week and bakes cakes for the staff at the hospital and skilled nursing facility.

“These cakes are truly delicious; my wife and I have been favored on several occasions to enjoy them,” admitted Moyse.

After summarizing Taylor’s dedication to the wellbeing of others, Moyse said she “richly deserved” the award of Healthcare Hero.

Janine Loescher was lauded for her contributions to the health needs of others by healthcare district board president Milt Davies, accompanied by 2009 award recipient Madelyn Lewis, RN.

Loescher, a diabetes educator, facilitator of Children’s Access to Community Health (CATCH), and coordinator of the Smiles Project, has been said to have made a significant impact in the area of healthcare education in the Fallbrook area for the past seven years.

“[Janine Loescher] is knowledgeable and experienced in multiple areas related to healthcare,” explained Davies. “She is an educator, an organized coordinator, a pursuer of information and resources. She brings quality and thoroughness to each endeavor. She works with children as well as adults to bring education and opportunity for safe-guarding and improving current health. She knows and teaches that today is tomorrow in the care and nurture of the human body.”

Davies detailed that Loescher has implemented programs in Fallbrook, Rainbow and Bonsall schools, both public and private.

“Her programs encourage attention to the importance and value of good dental care in children and she facilitates access to care for children and adults whose need for dental care may otherwise go untreated,” he added. Loescher has worked with Fallbrook Hospital and Fallbrook Family Health Center in coordinating educational opportunities for persons with diabetes.

“She has also worked with staff and patients of the community clinic for healthy pregnancies and thus healthy babies,” said Davies. “She promotes and arranges parenting classes.”

Davies explained that Loescher is also the president of two organizations - the Diabetes Association of San Diego and Poodle Pals, a canine rescue effort.

Loescher said she was “totally shocked” at being selected as a Healthcare Hero. “I’m very honored to be given this designation,” she said. “I love working in Fallbrook, Bonsall and Rainbow, and I love what I do.”

This is the second year the Fallbrook Healthcare District has presented the Healthcare Hero awards. A call for nominations is typically made in the fourth quarter of each year by the organization and awards announced at the Community Collaborative Breakfast held in January. Anyone that resides in Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow or De Luz may nominate an individual they feel is deserving of the award. The nominee does not have to live in this community but their work must be of direct benefit to those who live here.

The purpose of the program is to recognize two individuals who, by the quality of their service, demonstrate exceptional commitment to the health and wellbeing of the residents of this community. For more information, contact the Fallbrook Healthcare District at (760) 731-9187 or email [email protected].

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