Connecting Patients with Care
Employee Spotlight | Olivia Sherman
Olivia Sherman has a passion for people. With parents who both worked in caring professions, she grew up in a home where helping others was the norm. She’s continued her family’s legacy in her position at Open Door. “To me, a really great workday is when I get to see that I was able to help someone get what they need,” said Olivia. “I like the days when I get to see the full circle.”
Her supervisor, Mickelle McCoy, agrees that caring is one of Olivia’s strongest characteristics. “It’s impossible to miss her kindness, sweetness, understanding, and compassion,” Mickelle said. “She believes that everyone deserves to have easy access to healthcare, and this belief drives her commitment to connect patients with the care they need.”
Yet Olivia doesn’t interact much with the people in Open Door lobbies and exam rooms. She cares for them before they ever step foot into a health center.
Olivia is a scheduler, meaning that she’s often the first person to talk with a patient when they call the main line. Sometimes the caller wants to make an appointment, and she’s happy to help with that. Other times, patients need someone to take the time to listen to them. Olivia views every call as an opportunity to lift up and honor each patient.
“The more information I have, the more likely I am to get them exactly what they need – an appointment, a chat with a triage nurse, or something else. Plus, conversations with patients make the day interesting and fun,” said Olivia. There are so many barriers in U.S. healthcare, and I like being a part of reducing those barriers.”
Her excellence in patient service was recognized with the “Maximizing Potential” Award of the year in December 2024. Olivia described it as a “total and complete surprise.”
Away from work, Olivia enjoys thrifting and collecting Doc Martens and grandpa sweaters. When her family decided to exchange homemade Christmas gifts last year, she was inspired to learn to embroider. She continues to work on and give away projects. “There are only so many embroidered things one person needs,” she said. No matter where she is, Olivia’s kindness and positivity shine through.