Prioritizing staff well-being to enhance patient care
Angela Cheng: Unit Manager, Colorectal/General Surgery (Unit 83), Rockyview General Hospital.
Angela Cheng has been described by her colleagues as monumental to improving staff morale and ensuring everyone feels cared for and valued. She not only actively supports her staff, but is also dedicated to improving patient care, and making positive changes on the unit. That’s what makes Angela a Hero in Health!
The Heroes in Health initiative encourages patients and their families to give back in thanks for the extraordinary care they’ve received. To donate and nominate your health hero, go here.
Angela has worked for Alberta Health Services (AHS) since she was 17 years old, starting as a service aide who stocked supplies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She recently celebrated her 21-year anniversary with Alberta Health Services and has spent most of her career working at Rockyview General Hospital.
Through her varied roles throughout her career, she has found that her collective experiences have shaped her into the leader and manager she is today.
“Our frontline staff do such an amazing job at providing the best care possible. In order for us to support them in doing that, they need to be taken care of,” Angela said.
She believes holistically that everyone shares the fundamental need for care and support. She strives to treat people equitably and fairly. Through her experiences, she’s found that these principles are vital to everyone, to both staff and patients alike.
“Angela makes our unit a wonderful place to work, and makes it easier on the hard days to want to come back for your next shift,” said Nicole Devison, who nominated Angela.
Angela’s extensive experience across various roles and portfolios has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of AHS both operationally and organizationally. Now in management, she finds it highly advantageous to have begun her career in numerous support positions. Working alongside many of the managers she once reported to, has given her a unique and valuable perspective.
Her ability to foster, develop and maintain healthy relationships has helped her garner the trust of her team. She has the operational knowledge and many different perspectives allowing her to be extremely effective in managing large teams.
She credits having strong emotional intelligence to being one of the reasons why she can connect so well with her staff which has been pivotal in helping her navigate difficult conversations.
Most rewarding to Angela is seeing the difference she’s made in her staff.
“My favourite thing to do is see anybody who has reported to me, succeed. I’ve seen people that I’ve mentored or coached go off to do wonderful things and it’s a huge reward to me.”
Mentoring and coaching employees is what she’s most passionate about. She loves taking staff under her wing, helping to set them up for success and engaging with them to explore their interests. She hopes to build employees up so they can realize their full potential.
“Looking after patients and ensuring we provide the most excellent care is so important to me. We facilitate and do everything from the minute a patient comes onto the unit to when they go home. I want their experience to be as positive as possible, because nobody wants to be in a hospital.”
Working at Rockyview General Hospital has been a family affair. All of her immediate family works in a variety of roles within Alberta Health Services.
“At the end of the day, Rockyview feels like home to me. The people and staff – you walk down the hall and it’s your people. It’s such an amazing hospital and environment. So many of my colleagues have been part of my leadership journey and it really is like family.”
Angela, we’re proud to call you a Hero in Health, and to have you as part of our extended family.
