Debbie Deccio celebrates 50 years at St. Mary

In 1974, a high school senior was placed in a temporary, part-time job as a file clerk at St. Mary Hospital.

That student, Debbie Deccio, on Oct. 7, 2024 will celebrate her 50-year employment anniversary at Providence St. Mary Medical Center. Debbie’s employment spans five positions, two hospital buildings and four hospital name changes.

Her longevity at St. Mary is largely about the people, she said. Great bosses, great co-workers, and an employer that has good benefits and pays well.

“I know it sounds hokey, but it really is the people. I felt, and I still feel, proud to be part of St. Mary,” Debbie said. “I look around at what we have done, and I am proud.”

Her first job was part of a high school program where seniors were placed with local employers to give them work experience before graduation. This was long before the current formal recruitment processes, so 17-year-old Debbie found herself in a big, brick hospital building being interviewed one-on-one for a temporary job by the hospital president.

“To talk to the administrator of the whole hospital? Wow,” she said. “I remember he was a big, imposing man with a big desk.”

Her office was near the front entrance. When the temporary file clerk job ended, they offered her another, and then another. Her attention to detail and work ethic quickly earned her a reputation as the go-to person who got things done.

As she worked those early jobs, a new hospital was built across the parking lot from the old one. The move to the new building with a new name, St. Mary Community Hospital, occurred in March of 1976. Debbie recalls rolling her office chair holding a box of belongings across the parking lot to her new office in the new hospital building. The building was furnished with new desks, but they kept their chairs.

In her career, Debbie has been a file clerk in the Business Office, billing clerk in the Billing Office, payroll clerk for Finance, Information Systems (IS) coordinator, and the department system coordinator for Security. In all that time, the only job she went through a formal application process for was the last one.

“I always wondered how people knew who I was, or the kind of worker I was,” she said. “I have always been asked if I wanted the next job. I have been very fortunate.”

Her longest role was as a coordinator in IS from October of 1996 to December 2021. She loved it.

“It was dynamic and fun, such a good job and with a good schedule,” she said. “It was more flexible, and I didn’t have to balance timecards or get payroll out anymore. I also really liked the people. Everyone liked IS.”

Debbie could see that role would end when IS functions were moved to the system level, and jobs were shifted or eliminated.

In 2021, she was looking for what would come next. She was 65 and not ready to retire. 

St. Mary Medical Center also wasn’t ready for her to retire. Security needed her to provide support, create badges, work with the emergency notification system Everbridge, onboard nursing student access, and more. Pharmacy wanted her as well for projects such as inventory and user management for Pyxis machines. Her time now is divided between the two departments.

"Debbie has always demonstrated the values of excellence and stewardship in her work," said Security Manager Susan Leathers.  "She has been such a valuable member of the Security team and provides support for all caregivers across PSMMC and PMG clinics with the badge access program. Everyone knows her.  She takes the initiative to make sure everything is done efficiently and accurately with attention to detail and cost.

"Looking back, I was there that historic day in March of 1976 with the move to the 'new' hospital.  Debbie at least knew enough to know where her new office was – when I came on duty I got totally lost!"

Debbie said she might retire next year or may become per diem, but all options are open.

“I haven’t really decided,” she said. “I still like going to work, and since I’ve been in Security, work is fun again. I have great bosses. I feel appreciated and respected in this job. I feel I matter.”