Many know Joan Chatell as the Emergency Room Manager at Colusa Regional Medical Center, where she has held that title since 1989.  An employee of CRMC for more than 35 years, Joan is known for being dependable, approachable, professional and thoughtful.  She is also known for remembering co-workers’ birthdays, calling and singing to them.

Born and raised in Nebraska, Joan and her husband, Jim, moved to California to escape the harsh, cold winter weather in Michigan.  They had relatives in Colusa who owned a marina so they came and stayed, living most of their married life here.

Joan says one of the most important lessons she has learned in nursing is “Assess, don’t assume.  Always treat your patients in a way you would want to be treated.  Be fair in all your judgments – patients are not merely patients, they are your friends and neighbors.”