Sometimes it seems like LincolnHealth Environmental Services Supervisor Carolyn Hatch never leaves the Miles Campus, according to Lincoln County Healthcare CEO James Donovan.

When there were staff vacancies this summer, Hatch, the 2014 Webster and Elise Van Winkle Excellence in Healthcare Award winner, stayed late and came in early and inspired the same commitment from her staff to make sure every hospital room was spotless and patients were safe.

At the award ceremony, Donovan called Hatch a “hands-on supervisor and a department leader who is able to inspire the type of coordinated effort and dedication that is needed in times of short staffing without compromising the exceptionally high standards her team provides our hospital’s patients, visitor and coworkers.”

The Van Winkle Award is given each year to a Lincoln County Healthcare employee who not only excels at their work, but one who has also shown an extraordinary commitment to their job and their co-workers.

At a time when the risk of hospital infections from an ever-growing list of microbial threats requires hospitals to constantly update cleaning procedures, Donovan said that Hatch not only goes above and beyond in a difficult job, she also contributes to patients, their families and colleagues in many other ways.

“Carolyn is a person who will do whatever is asked of her. If someone needs help or assistance, Carolyn Hatch is the one to call,” said Donovan.

In addition to spending long hours at her job, Hatch also takes the lead in organizing events to improve employee morale as chairman of the Employee Recognition Committee; and she also serves on several other committees. She is also a member of the Newcastle Fire Department and was recently elected a Newcastle selectman.

Hatch, who has worked at Lincoln County Healthcare for 14 years, said coming to work each day is like coming to a second home.

“You get connected with the people in your department and people out of your department. They live in this area, they come to this hospital. I bring my family to this hospital,” she said.

At the center of that community is her staff, hardworking people who have a difficult job and do it well, said Hatch.

“They are what make me want to come to work each day,” said Hatch.