Getting to Know: Ramona Stanfield
--interview conducted and written by Kathy Hinkle

An employee who was recently selected as one of our outstanding employees of the month is Ramona Stanfield. She is the Executive Assistant to our Executive Director, Marian Matthews, and her desk sits right outside Marian's Office. If you don't see her there she may be in the Administration Workroom “dealing with” the copying machine. Ramona is probably better acquainted with the inside of that machine than any other person here since she is the one we call on when it gets contrary which happens quite often

Her job includes the responsibility of maintaining all Administrative Records. These are very important to have for surveys by the state or the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). She keeps four sets of books for the Health Care Center, Memory Center, Assisted Living, and Adult Day Services. We had an unexpected survey by the state just a week or so ago and, as always, they were very complementary about how well organized our records were.

She also deals with correspondence, credentialing of physicians, and agreements or contracts, all the way from the various schools who send their students here as part of their training to the exterminator. She prepares agendas, does minutes, and updates the Policy and Procedure Book.

Ramona arranges for the monthly Office Support Group meetings. The Support Staff -- Unit Clerks, Accounting Clerk, Utility Clerk, and Receptionist all attend these meetings as part of their continuing education.

Ramona had been in the medical field before (State and County Health Departments and the Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital) but then tried the oil and gas business. After just six months she knew she wanted to return to the medical field, saw an ad for a receptionist/secretary/bookkeeper at St. Simeon's and applied. “I was hired eleven years ago and I feel fortunate that they hired me. I love my job and am proud to work at St. Simeon's.”

Her job has grown as St. Simeon's has grown. When she came here the Memory Center didn't even exist. The Administrative Offices were where the Life Enrichment Director's Office is now. Her office was where Paula Sampson's office is.

Ramona was born and raised in the farming community of Rulo, Nebraska. Her father's health caused the family to move to Colorado for her Junior High years. They later returned to Nebraska where she attended Falls City High School. After graduation she became a Southwestern Bell telephone operator. She later married and moved to Longmont, Colorado where they ran a family owned motel.

After a divorce Ramona moved to Choteau, Oklahoma to work at the Osteopathic Clinic. She later met Richard Stanfield and they have been married for 19 years. Richard works for the Bank of Oklahoma.

Together they have five children, she has three and he has two. Also nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. They all live out of state.

Richard and Ramona currently live in the Brookside area. They have lived there for five years and have built a water garden complete with gold fish and also have flower and vegetable gardens. “Richard mostly does the gardening and I take care of the fish pond.”

In her spare time Ramona enjoys arts and crafts, reading and is active in assisting Richard who is president of the Southside Sertoma Club. Then there are the dogs!

Just visit her workstation and you can find out all about their Rat Terriers, Susie and Shadow. Susie is seven and Shadow (who they adopted thru their vet) turns two on April first. Yes, they ARE having a party with other dogs invited! Both dogs attend classes at Tulsa Dog Training School. Susie is quite the competitor in obedience and agility shows and has the ribbons and trophies to show for it. Shadow already shows promise and graduated at the top of his class. Recently Richard was asked to bring Susie to the library to be with him while he reads to a child. You may have seen an article about this program recently in the paper.

They are fortunate dogs to have such loving masters and St. Simeon's is also most fortunate to have such a loyal and dedicated employee as Ramona Stanfield.