There are no words to accurately describe the positive impact Derek Ganzenmuller has and continues to make on the veterans he cares for, the radiology department, and the VA as a whole. If you asked anyone in our department, it’s hard to narrow down the examples of the positive things about how he goes above and beyond, always figures out how to get something done without complaining, and advocates fiercely for the veterans. When someone needs an IV, when an MRI patient needs an enema or glucagon injection, or when interventional radiology has an unexpected add-on case that needs sedation or monitoring, Derek will always be there without hesitation to lend a hand. 

During a 6-week stint this past year, Derek functioned as two nurses while our other nurse was out on medical leave. With his work ethic, you would never know that our department functioned with one nurse. He does all of the IVs and labs needed, calls all the procedure patients before and after in addition to providing procedural support, and the schedule was nearly just as full as it normally is when there are two nurses. With a full schedule one of those weeks, there was an inpatient with some behavioral issues getting a scan that needed a medicine administered, and when the patient refused care from another provider, Derek was able to step in and get the scan done.

The joy Derek exudes while doing his job is evident by anyone who meets him, particularly the veterans. His responsiveness to the needs of veterans is something to aspire to. There’s a veteran who comes to radiology weekly who lives alone and can’t shower by himself. Derek takes the time to bring the veteran to the shower every time he visits. Derek will coordinate with other services to have them come visit him in the radiology department, when possible, to minimize the strain on this veteran. Derek will often switch around his lunch if a veteran or fellow employee needs assistance because he truly cares and wants to give back to the veterans who have already given so much for this country.

Derek is not only responsive to the needs of veterans and the department; he seeks out opportunities for improvement and increased efficiency. Derek, working with nursing students to create a research project, has been an integral part of creating a pre- and post-scan hydration protocol to optimize patients’ kidney function and minimize contrast-induced renal damage. Derek is also closely familiar with the number of patients who come through our department with contrast allergies. When someone has had a reaction and potentially can't receive contrast, it can alter the quality of the imaging. Derek has started a project that will allow clearer and more consistent documentation in the chart of which type of contrast a patient has had a reaction to, which will minimize the time for staff to hunt for the information. His creative ingenuity was instrumental in the development of our contrast reactions kits, which we now have in the department. These kits are stocked with all the necessary items to respond to a contrast reaction in a well-organized and well-marked location. Prior to this creation, you would have to open a crash kit to find the medications you needed, as well as roam the supply closet to find additional items. In a potentially life-threatening situation, Derek has helped to create a life-saving kit. 

It is easy to extoll the wonderful things Derek does, yet he sees it as just doing his job. These examples are just some of the many ways Derek is always delivering the utmost care for our veterans, improving the efficiency in our department, providing a wonderful boost to morale daily, and owning the moment with every interaction.