DUKE STARS — Jim Best
 Name: Jim Best
Years of service: 15
Title: Materials Resource Technician
Department: Materials Management, Duke Raleigh Hospital
Jim Best's family tree probably provides some nice shade for Duke Raleigh Hospital.
"Someone from my family has worked at this hospital since it opened in 1978," said Jim Best, a materials resource technician who is celebrating 15 years at DRAH this year.
His mother Marie Best was a nurse and later his sister-in-law worked in radiology. Best also met his wife Kathy at the hospital when she was an administrative assistant in facilities management. Best said he and his relatives sometimes talk about all the changes that have happened at the hospital over the years, especially since the hospital became part of the Duke family in 1998.
"When my mom started working here it was a very small hospital. She's amazed by all the changes especially the technology we use today that they didn't have back then," Best said. "Virtually the entire hospital has been or is currently being renovated, benefits have increased, and technology has improved. Duke is really committed to making this a great hospital."
Best believes that many of the positive changes are a result of the DUHS Balanced Scorecard, which was initiated to track success and find room for improvement across the health system. It increased standards and expectations within all departments, he said. Best also learned new processes and procedures since more duties became computerized, his department has more tools to do their job well and overall morale has increased.
"Technically, I didn't start out working at Duke," Best said. "But when people ask me where I work, I'm proud to say that I work for Duke."
In his work as a materials resource technician, Best fields STAT phone calls and manages the supplies and tools for the operating room. Although he doesn't work directly with patients, Best realizes that everyone at the hospital contributes to the patient experience.
"Even though I don't directly help patients, I feel that I have an impact because I help the people who help the patients," Best said. "I enjoy my job with Duke, and that's the bottom line."
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