Walk-In Care Physician Wins Annual Dr. Dreyer Award of Excellence

Charles R. Ireland, D.O., a Family Medicine practitioner in Walk-In Care since 1990, has been named the recipient of the 2010 Dr. John W. Dreyer Award of Excellence.  The official announcement came from Chairman of the Board, Jon E. Christofersen, M.D., during the September quarterly meeting of the physician group.

Dr. Ireland was chosen from individual nominations submitted to the Dreyer Medical Group board of directors, a governing group composed of seven practicing physicians.  Their final selection was based on a global assessment of a number of key areas of physician performance.  Dr. Ireland’s contributions to the Clinic include chairing the Walk-In Care Department, serving on the board of directors at Dreyer Medical Clinic for 6 years, and his involvement with the community.

Dr. Ireland has worked hard over the course of his tenure at Dreyer to put patients at the center of Walk-In Care.  He organized and led two of the first process improvement events, called “Dream Retreats.”  These events focused on increasing patient satisfaction, patient safety, and the quality of care that patients receive in Dreyer’s Walk-In Care department.

“Dr. Ireland strives to provide the highest quality health care to every patient that he sees,” said Dr. Christofersen.  “His work and attitude exemplify the compassion and service that helped immortalize Dr. Dreyer’s legacy.”

Dr. Ireland is an active member on the board of directors for Faith Christian Academy, in Geneva Illinois.  He also works with Restoration Ministries, a drug and addiction rehabilitation program based in Harvey, Illinois.  He has generously volunteered his time and expertise to many other community organizations and public entities.  Because of his dedication and persistence, services are more compassionately delivered to Dreyer patients. 

Dr. Ireland received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana, and earned a medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Chicago.  He sees patients in Walk-In Care at the Clinic’s Batavia, Fox Valley Villages, and West Aurora locations.   

The Dr. John W. Dreyer Award of Excellence is crafted of crystal and engraved with an image of Dr. Dreyer on his bicycle.  The early area practitioner, who came to Aurora in 1905, had a reputation for making house calls on a bicycle.  In 1914, he rode his bike to North Aurora during a blinding snowstorm to administer a desperately needed dose of diphtheria vaccine to a young boy.  That “house call” saved the boy’s life.

The Dr. John W. Dreyer Award of Excellence was created in 2002 during the 80^th anniversary of the Clinic.  Dr. Ireland is the ninth physician to receive this high honor.  Previous winners were, Fred V. Kemp, M.D.; Michael C. Loebach, M.D.; Steven J. Sapyta, M.D.; Richard I. Angell, M.D.; Sheryl Pastryk Snyder, M.D.; John N. Blair, M.D.; and  Cornelius K. Smith, M.D., David S. Leader, M.D.