Sally Rousseau Named John R. Williams Legacy Award Winner

Sally Rousseau, LCSW, LMFT, Director of Social Work & Care Management is the recipient of the 2023 John R Williams Legacy Award for Innovation and Improvement. Rousseau was nominated by several physician colleagues and the award was presented at the annual Highland Hospital service recognition event.

The John R Williams Legacy Award honors and recognizes an employee, physician, or member of the Leadership team who demonstrates perseverance and commitment to process improvement. This person takes ownership of an issue and sees it through to completion with an unwavering commitment to quality outcome. 

“I am deeply appreciative of this recognition and knowing that this comes from my colleagues means so much to me,” said Rousseau. “The opportunities and experiences that have been afforded to me by Highland Hospital over the past 30 years have been incredible and I owe so much and feel so profoundly privileged to work every day with people who are healers, who care for others, and want the best for our patients, families and community - what better mission/purpose could there be?”

Rousseau leads a staff of approximately 90 across many domains including inpatient and outpatient social workers, addiction services counselors, nurse care coordinators, financial case management, placement office, and spiritual care.  “Sally brings her family systems training and holistic view of health and healing to her daily work,” said Dr. Dwyer- Matzky, one of her nominators. “Her leadership influences her staff and colleagues, and thus touches hundreds of patients, staff, and faculty every day,” Kathryn Holloway, RN Care Coordinator Manager added, “When it comes to advocating for patients, Sally’s drive and passion is unmatched. She consistently puts the best interest of patients and their wellbeing at the forefront of every process and decision.”

Rousseau is respected for her creative and collaborative nature that is apparent in her work with nursing home geriatricians to facilitate keeping patients safely in their homes.  She was able to work with the ENON program to get patients home from the ED and she and her team, along with Strong Memorial Hospital, developed a novel approach to transporting patients home from the hospital by developing a program with Lyft, the on-demand, app-based private car service.

Another example is her work with the multi-million dollar TC3 program, which transitioned some of Highland’s most complex long stay hospital patients to nursing homes, thus ensuring the appropriate level of care, and enabling other acute patients to access Highland’s acute care beds.

Rousseau was also driven to obtain HEPSO funding to hire an integrated family systems medical consultant to work with hospitalized persons with sickle cell disease, a disease which by nature creates unbearable pain episodes that can lead to many challenges with patients, families, and staff. This program is a key example of her focus on Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in our health care system which she is committed to by implementing regular staff education, clinician meetings, and ensuring patients have all the resources needed to maintain their health.

Rousseau also leads her team in additional initiatives serving our Highland population including the food for home program, five contacts readmission program, meds to beds pharmacy program, Go Bags for Unhoused Patients, and commitment to focusing on the whole care team with interdisciplinary rounds.