Admissions director at Life Care Center in Hilo recognized for her service to patients, associates

The admissions director at Life Care Center of Hilo recently received the Life Care Centers of America’s Mountain States Division Whatever It Takes Champions annual award for her dedication to customer service.

Florence Sabate was chosen from among thousands of associates in the Mountain States Division and was one of only seven associates from Life Care’s nearly 200 facilities nationwide to receive the award.

She was nominated for going above and beyond her job duties to help patients and associates last year when she used her own money to make and deliver home-cooked meals to several of the center’s outpatients who otherwise may not have had a holiday meal. She also consistently helped other departments and filled in whenever needed, exemplifying Life Care’s associate motto to do “whatever it takes and then some.” 

“I was actually in awe when I won this award,” Sabate said. “It completely surprised me. I really enjoy building relationships with those in my community. I feel like those relationships go beyond the building that I work in, and I really do enjoy when I see our residents restored and healed [like] prior to their illness. I am inspired by the history of our residents’ lives, and how blessed we are to provide exceptional service during the healing process.”

Facility leadership surprised Sabate with the news of her win by showing her a special video. After being told she was going to help executive director Kirsten Huertas record an official bed management video, Sabate sat down to help, and Huertas started a video of facility associates explaining why they believed Sabate deserved to win the award.

After watching the video, Sabate was led to the center’s main lobby, where residents and all the facility’s associates were gathered to help celebrate with an awards ceremony. Life Care awarded Sabate a $1,000 cash prize during the celebration. 

“Florence is so compassionate,” Huertas said. “Her superpower is to really go above and beyond with her relationships with other employees and our residents. She has a love for what she does. She’s just amazing, so loving and kind. She is a top-notch associate.”

Life Care’s Whatever It Takes Champions program rewards associates for extraordinary acts of kindness. Monthly awards are presented in Life Care facilities nationwide based on nominations from fellow associates, family members, residents and guests. At the end of the calendar year, each division selects its top three monthly winners, from which their annual award winner is then chosen.

Life Care Center of Hilo, located at 944 W. Kawailani St., is one of four skilled nursing and rehab centers in Hawaiʻi managed by Life Care Centers of America.

Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide healthcare company. For more information about Life Care, visit lcca.com.