SHELTON, WA – Mason Health is proud to recognize William Bernal, Environmental Services (EVS) Technician, as our April 2026 Employee of the Month. William was recognized for his attention to detail, willingness to chip in wherever and whenever he’s needed, and pleasant, friendly demeanor.

Mason Health is a community-focused organization, and William is truly one of our own. He was born in Shelton and lived almost his entire life here, other than a short stint in California as a child. He started with Mason Health “pretty much out of high school” and is not the only member of his family who is part of the Mason Health community. His sister, Stephanie, works as a Clinic Scheduling Representative, while his aunt, Linda, is a Health Information Management (HIM) Support Specialist. “I’ve been here about 13 or 14 years, and I actually got my start here because my sister and my aunt both worked here too, so it was a natural fit,” said Bernal.

William serves a very important role for Mason Health as an EVS technician, but one that isn’t always totally understood by the average patient even though it is often patient facing. Technicians are trained in disinfecting patient rooms, operating rooms, and equipment in high-touch areas to reduce the spread of illnesses. They ensure that all areas of the District, including Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic, are safe and sanitary.

“Our department sees over 2,000 patients on a busy month and from time to time we have urgent EVS needs due to patient safety and infection control reasons,” said Larry Messenger, Director of Rehabilitation Services. “William has came to our aide on many occasions and he always responds very quickly and with a smile on his face. Our needs are often not pleasant to deal with and yet he never complains, resolves the situation quickly and pleasantly interacts with all of our staff.”

Despite holding such a crucial role that impacts patient and employee safety, as well as patient experience, William still finds time to appreciate the little things. “The people are definitely my favorite,” he said. “You get to meet so many people with different backgrounds and life experiences. There are always nice people as long as you’re willing to look.”

William’s attitude is one that has made an impression throughout the organization, and he’s never one to shy away from a challenge – wherever it arises. “I see him often in many different departments helping out and to this day have never seen him be anything but pleasant and friendly,” said Messenger. “We all could learn a lot from William and try to interject a little more kindness and patience into our daily work lives.”

When he’s not at work, William enjoys watching movies and TV shows (his favorite is Game of Thrones). He also loves to hike and, as we head into the summer months, he’s looking forward to “being able to go outside and enjoy the sun.”

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. The Board of Hospital District Commissioners are Don Welander, President, Lori Brady, Secretary, and Pamela Schlauderaff, Trustee. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of one Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award, three Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards, the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award and the 2025 Emerald 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.masonhealth.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.

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