President Obama Meets with SAVE Award Winner

VA Employee Nancy Fichtner Presents Winning Idea at White House 

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama today presented the first-ever SAVE (Securing Americans Value and Efficiency) Award to a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee from Loma, Colorado. Nancy Fichtner’s idea was voted the winner out of four finalists in a public online vote. Over 38,000 federal employees made SAVE Award submissions from across the country. 

 “We are incredibly proud of the creativity and the commitment to quality and cost savings shown by our VA staff,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Nancy’s idea will not only help save tax dollars, but also help deliver better care for Veterans who have dedicated their lives to ensure our freedom and prosperity.”

The President’s SAVE Award invited federal employees to submit their ideas on how to make government more efficient and effective. 

Fichtner’s winning idea is for Veterans leaving VA hospitals to be able to take the medication they have been using home with them instead of it being discarded upon discharge. Most hospitals across the country do not allow patients to take home medicines they are using while in the hospital; instead, it is discarded.  Fichtner’s idea will be included in the FY2010 Budget.

The concept involves using new technology to put the same information on the medications used in the hospital as on the medications that go home with the patients, such as detailed dosage instructions. The current system uses two separate labeling systems for inpatient and outpatient prescription use.  

“First, I want to thank everyone who voted and participated in the White House SAVE award competition,” said Fichtner, a fiscal program support clerk at the Grand Junction Colorado VA Medical Center. “A lot of great ideas were submitted, and I am truly honored that my idea has been chosen. As the daughter and grandchild of Veterans, I personally understand the sacrifice our servicemembers and their families make. My goal as a VA employee is to help provide a safe and caring environment for Veterans, and I am excited that my idea can help change their lives for the better.” 

The SAVE Award originated with the President’s weekly address on April 25th in which he called for “new thinking and a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent.” To reform government, he proposed a process through which government employees could submit ideas for their agency to save money and perform better. To fulfill this promise, OMB launched the President’s SAVE Award on September 23, 2009.

BIOGRAPHY – NANCY PATRICIA FICHTNER 

Loma, Colorado

Fiscal Program Support Clerk, Grand Junction, Colorado Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Nancy is the daughter and granddaughter of Veterans.  She grew up in Seiad Valley, California on a ranch and graduated from Ashland High School in Oregon. Nancy currently works in the financial department at the Grand Junction, Colorado Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), but has prior experience in pharmacology.  She has been with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for almost 6 years. 

Nancy is single working mom with two children. Alex 19, and Kasey Ann 16, both attend Fruita Monument High School and volunteer at the Grand Junction VAMC. Alex plans on joining the Marines after graduating in May 2010.  Kasey Ann plans on becoming an ultrasound technician after graduating in May of 2011.  

Nancy’s family enjoys the outdoors and takes full advantage of the western lifestyle.  

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