2013 Health Care Champions Honoree: Kerry Gallentine

For Lamar native Kerry Gallentine, radiology wasn’t her lifelong dream.

“If you had told me 15 years ago that I was going to be a health care professional, I would not have believed you,” she says.

But like many in health care who are drawn by personal experience, Gallentine was inspired by her grandmother’s battle with cancer and took an interest in radiology. While working part-time as a radiology assistant, she completed the radiologic technologist certificate program at Great Plains Technology Center in Lawton, Okla.

Today, with 10 years of perfect attendance under her belt, Gallentine sees nearly 5,000 patients each year at Mercy Hospital Springfield. Working with a diverse patient population, she sees a variety of in-hospital and outpatients.

Drawing on her Ozarks upbringing, Gallentine recognizes the importance of being genuine and prides herself on a natural ability to relate to others.

“I can’t think of many patients who enjoy having tests or X-rays done, so I strive to make the experience as comfortable as possible,” she says.

Gleaning personal tidbits while completing a patient’s health history, Gallentine says she uses the details as conversation starters during radiologic procedures.

“It’s common for patients to engage in conversations with me about their family, the weather or local events,” she says. “I try to learn something unique about each patient and make that personal connection. It puts them at ease.”

One patient in particular from Wichita, Kan., visited Gallentine’s area twice a week during a 20-week course of tests and treatments.

“That was in 2010,” she says. “Six months ago, he stopped in to see me during a visit to Springfield. He was in a completely different part of the hospital, but he came over and looked me up in the department. That’s an unusual case – but of course we do have the Missouri State, Wichita State sports rivalry to keep us going.”

The rise of digital radiography has made imaging a rapid-return diagnostic procedure. Even given a high volume of patients, Gallentine’s practice of taking the extra time has drawn notice. Since 2010, Gallentine has earned 18 Mercy Rewards recognition incentives based on exceptionally positive patient feedback – an average of one every other month.

Gallentine says moving forward, advances in CT scans and increased prevalence of MRI technology are rapidly changing the imaging field. Since 2005, Gallentine has helped prepare radiology professionals for a changing field as an instructor at Mercy’s School of Radiologic Technology at Southwest Baptist University and as a guest lecturer at Missouri State University.

She remains confident her skills will be in demand for as long as there are nervous patients undergoing X-rays.

“I think it goes to show that providing high-quality, compassionate care and really connecting to people makes a long-lasting impact,” she says.[[In-content Ad]]