Community & Culture

We Are IH: Golden clerk enjoys supporting the patient journey

Michelle cross-country skiing at Dawn Mountain

Name: Michelle Plenderleith (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Operating Room Booking / Nursing Unit Clerk 
Years of Service: 7
Worksite: Golden & District Hospital
Community: Golden
Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa
Advice to live by: Let go of the small things.

Michelle Plenderleith

Michelle’s favourite things about her job are three-fold: 

  • Her coworkers, including nurses, physicians, and medical device reprocessing, administration and housekeeping staff
  • The patients she has the opportunity to see and talk to, and helping them navigate the health-care system 
  • How fast paced her role is, and that it changes day to day so it’s never boring

Learn more about her journey with IH

Michelle describes herself as eternally optimistic, approachable, goofy and empathetic. These traits were useful during one of the most difficult, but also proudest, times in Michelle’s career: while working through the COVID-19 pandemic, from the beginning when many things started to shut down to the reestablishment of services and changing of procedures.

Michelle on a paddelboard.

Michelle paddling on Kinbasket Lake

“Nothing has felt overwhelming. We've just been taking it one day at a time and making it work.”

Michelle looks forward to seeing the operating room program at the hospital expand and grow to include more visiting specialists, allowing wider access to required surgeries.

Michelle also appreciates programs such as “RAAR” (Random Acts of Appreciation and Recognition) at Interior Health.

Any program that celebrates the hardworking people in Interior Health is a brilliant way to spotlight those that truly care about their jobs, the people they work with and the people they serve in our communities.

-- Michelle Plenderleith on Interior Health - Random Acts of Appreciation and Recognition

Michelle preparing for a half marathon.

Michelle training for her first half marathon this summer

In her spare time, Michelle takes advantage of the beautiful outdoors in Golden; you can find her running, cross-country skiing, camping or paddle boarding, depending on the season.

Michelle nominates Stacey Nikita, Patient Registration, to keep We Are IH going:

“Stacey is the unofficial site expert. She’s knowledgeable, funny, outgoing and super helpful. Stacey cares about the correct way to do things – she’s the best.” – Michelle Plenderleith

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