SHELTON, WA – Mason County community members know Sandra Putvin as a kind, caring and empathetic person who will do what it takes to connect an individual in need with the resources that might help them. As Mason Health’s Community Health Worker, Putvin helps patients in crisis overcome barriers to quality health care. Putvin’s strong work ethic and commitment to putting patients first are why her coworkers named her Mason Health's August 2024 Employee of the Month.

Putvin grew up all over the world, with a father who served in the U.S. Navy. She loved connecting to people from all different backgrounds, a quality that has helped her in her current role. She moved to Shelton in 1989 to be closer to her sister and has built a home in Shelton, serving Mason County.

“I’ve always wanted a home, and I feel Shelton is my home,” Putvin said. “That why I really, really love what I do. I love working with and being part of this community.”

Putvin worked for Shelton School District for 10 years, then for Mason County for three years. Continuing her work in public service, she joined Mason Health in March 2009, starting out as an assistant in the Maintenance Department. After six years, she became an assistant in the Infection Control and Employee Health Department, helping to launch Mason Health’s first Safety Fair. She enjoyed her work, but in 2018, she found a new calling after a close loved one struggled to navigate the health care system.

“I had a personal family member going through a hard time who needed to be hospitalized for depression,” she said. “When he was released, there was nothing for him. He had to wait three months for a therapist appointment. There was nobody to help him through next steps. I decided I wanted to help people navigate the health system. It’s so confusing when you are in the middle of it and in crisis.”

Putvin took a course to become a Community Health Worker through Cascade Pacific Action Alliance. In 2019, she started as a Community Health Worker at Mason Health, under the Care Coordination Department. In June 2023, Putvin’s role was absorbed into the Primary Care Department, making it easier for providers to refer patients to her for assistance. The pr

“Every single day is different,” she said. “It’s challenging every day. I love to work with clients and help them to trust themselves. More and more providers are using me now and we are helping more people every day. I’m excited to see the program grow.”

Many of Putvin’s clients are elderly, and she often helps them and their families navigate dementia and caregiving challenges. After the elderly, her next largest group of clients are those experiencing homelessness. A recent day included helping an 82-year-old woman who was widowed and lived in Lilliwaup. Her provider had referred her to a gastroenterologist in Seattle and recommended a low-fat and low-salt diet. The woman lived on $900 per month from Social Security Insurance, did not have transportation, and utilized the food bank, which can present challenges with a low-salt diet. Putvin helped the woman access healthier food, find transportation and find a specialist closer by.

When she’s not working, Putvin loves gardening and crafts, including drawing and working with mosaic tiles. She’s an herbalist and can make lotions, creams and salves. She and her husband love spending time with their grown children and three dogs — Zeus, a Newfoundland, and poodles Poppy and Atticus.

Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of three Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards and the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award. To learn more about Mason Health’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/about/sustainability-environmental-stewardship. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masongeneral.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.

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