News, announcements, and vital information for associates, their families, and friends of Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Se pte mb e r 2Ma 0 1 3y/June 2 0 14
Kenmore Mercy Leading Area in Patient Safety; Receives “A” Rating in Leapfrog Report Kenmore Mercy Hospital received the Buffalo area’s only “A” score in the latest Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score report. Lynn Palmatier, Kathy Jendraszek, Mike Wendel, Jamie Billips, and Jennifer Brown are just a few of the staff who contributed to the lab’s successful surveys.
Lab Completes Successful DOH and Joint Commission Surveys Kenmore Mercy Hospital recently underwent a four-day, unannounced laboratory survey by the Department of Health and a two-day survey from the Joint Commission. The hospital has since received notification that it successfully achieved reaccreditations from both groups for another two years. While the surveyors concentrated their inspection on the laboratory, they also reviewed laboratory-related processes in all clinical areas of the hospital, including the Emergency Department, the Surgery Department, inpatient units, and Nuclear Medicine. The surveyors interviewed staff to evaluate how care is delivered at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.
They also reviewed the Laboratory Department’s protocols for patient safety, patient rights and responsibilities, infection prevention, quality control, performance improvement, and documentation, as well as associate education and competency. In addition to the survey conducted at the hospital, the surveyors also inspected the Ken-Ton FamilyCare Center. “We are pleased with the final report and are extremely proud of what our staff continues to accomplish,” said Mike Wendel, manager of Laboratory Services.
The report is designed to rate how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections,. “The Leapfrog report is just one of the many ways we evaluate our quality performance in Catholic Health,” said Joe McDonald, president & CEO of Catholic Health.
“From our Board of Directors to each and every associate working throughout our organization, quality and patient safety remain our top priority.” “We are especially proud of Kenmore Mercy Hospital and all of our physicians and staff throughout Catholic Health for their commitment to provide our patients with the very best care,” McDonald continued.
The Leapfrog Group, an independent healthcare industry watchdog, uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data on patient injuries, medical errors and infection rates to grade hospitals on their overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm.
In the latest report, more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals received an A, B, C, D, or F for their overall safety. Only about 32 percent received an “A” grade.
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Sisters of Charity Hospital and its St. Joseph Campus all received “B” ratings.
“Here at Kenmore Mercy Hospital we are focused on patient safety and this ‘A’ rating demonstrates that this is something we prioritize every single day,” said Jim Millard, president & CEO.
“Optimizing patient safety requires the collective efforts of our entire team – physicians, nurses, and all of our support staff working together,” he added.
The Hospital Safety Score is fully transparent, and its website offers a full analysis of the data and methodology used in determining grades. Visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org to see the ratings and compare hospitals.
News from Jim Millard, President & CEO
Kudos
It’s always nice to share great news, and lately, I think we’ve had a lot of it!
As you may have read in the newspaper, Leapfrog just announced its 2014 report card on patient safety and they gave Kenmore Mercy Hospital an “A” rating. Kenmore Mercy was one of only two hospitals in the entire region to receive this top honor.
A special thank you to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Through their “Dress a Child for Spring” project, they have provided more than $1,100 in children’s clothing donations to support patients at Ken-Ton FamilyCare. Elaine Schrutt, RN, BSN, and Kathleen Vitthuhn, RN, MSN, recently received their Nurse Executive - Board Certifications (NE-BC). Spiritual Care is pleased to welcome two new chaplains, Geoff Hord and Fr. Bob Schober.
Vitthuhn
Hord
Cheryl Hayes, vice president of Patient Care Services, recently received her Nurse Executive Advanced Board Certification (NEA-BC). Beth Woods, RN, in the Intensive Care Unit, recently earned her Critical Care Nursing certification, a credential granted by AACN Certification Corp. Welcome to Heather Loomis, business advisor, in the Finance Department.
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Schrutt
Fr. Schober
We were also recently notified that our new south wing which houses the Emergency Department and Knee & Hip Center, is a finalist for Business First Newspaper’s Brick by Brick Award in the Best Medical Campus category. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony in June.
Earlier this spring we hosted our Associate Forums. I’m happy to say that we had record attendance, with over 325 associates attending these sessions. Thank you to everyone who came to learn about our priorities for 2014: Clinical Integration, Magnet Status, Operational Effectiveness, Orthopedic Campus of Excellence, Surgical Growth, and Patient Experience/Safety. We hope that you found these forums to be worthwhile. I know that I always enjoy getting a chance to talk to those who attend, and I appreciate the feedback that we receive during these sessions and through the associate forum evaluation forms.
Many of you have again suggested that we could improve communication by emailing information directly to our associates.
We are beginning this process by collecting personal emails from those associates who are interested. This will allow us to send you up-to-date news and direct you to our internet page for important happenings. If you haven’t done so already, and are interested in receiving information via email, please submit your email address through our intranet page by clicking on the “News,” then “Get News By Email.” You can also send it to KAshbery@chsbuffalo.org.
Finally, we expect that our two new operating rooms will be completed by early July. We’re excited that we’ll be able to grow our surgical program and that we will be able to accommodate those surgeons that are interested in doing more work at Kenmore Mercy.
As always, thanks for all that you do for Kenmore Mercy Hospital and our patients. The great success that we’ve been able to achieve is a direct result of your dedication and hard work.
Save the Date; Upcoming Summer Activities Hayes
Woods
Loomis
The first day of summer isn’t that far away and we have a lot celebrating to do at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Be sure to mark your calendar for these upcoming dates.
Friday, June 13 The hospital will host it’s annual Flag Day Ceremony on Friday, June 13 at 12:30 p.m. at the flag pole. If you are a veteran or current member of the military and would be interested in participating, please call x 76103.
Sunday, June 22 Come out and enjoy the Summer KMH Classic Bowling Tournament & Fun Day on Sunday, June 22 at Classic Lanes (1840 Military Road, Kenmore). For more information or to
register a three-person team, contact Mike Wendel at 447-6256 or mwendel@chsbuffalo.org.
Wednesday, July 30 Finally, on Wednesday, July 30, we host the annual associate summer luncheon. Join us at 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 4:30 - 7 p.m., and 11:30 p.m. - 1 a.m., under the tent next to the Emergency Department for food and fun! 2
Wilson Students Get Behind the Scenes Hospital Tour It may not be Grey’s Anatomy, but it could be the first step towards a career in healthcare for Wilson High School students who visited Kenmore Mercy in April as part of the hospital’s “M.A.S.H. Camp.”
The “M.A.S.H. Camp,” which stands for Medical Academy of Science and Health, gives students the opportunity to meet with working health professionals, participate in handson demonstrations, and tour various departments within the hospital, to see if a future career in healthcare might be right for them.
The Wilson students toured the laboratory, pharmacy, and pathology departments, to see staff in action and participate in interactive activities to learn more about various healthcare careers. Ricardo Senson, histology technician, shows the students a speciman.
They also learned how germs are spread with real-life examples.
Blessing of the Hands Affirms Work of All Associates
The brief ceremony affirms the work of every associate at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.
Associates who took advantage of the blessing ranged from nursing to environmental services, cafeteria staff, doctors, and administration.
Sr. Norine Truax and Kathy Clapp were among the individuals blessed during the ceremony.
“Our hands are a symbol of caring and reaching out to people,” Barth added. “They are symbolic of our life’s work. For many, this blessing is like a cleansing, a renewing. To be appreciated and loved and have it spoken to you is a powerful symbol.”
Associates Pledge to Go Green on Earth Day Associates at Kenmore Mercy Hospital showed their committment to reducing their carbon footprint by signing a “Go Green Pledge” on Earth Day, April 22. A framed copy of the pledge, seen in the photo, will be hung in the cafeteria. However, you can still visit the Kenmore Mercy Hospital intranet page to sign electronically.
By Mary Pat Barth Vice President of Mission Integration Compassion, Justice, Excellence, Reverence: these are the Catholic Health values that we celebrated during Nurses’ and Hospital Weeks in May.
These weeks celebrate all the men and women, who day in and day out remain committed to the compassionate care of patients, constant innovation and unmatched dedication.
Kenmore Mercy Hospital chaplains blessed the hands of associates and volunteers during National Hospital Week in May.
“It’s an opportunity for all associates — no matter where their work or what they do – to receive acknowledgement for their part of making Kenmore Mercy Hospital successful,” said Mary Pat Barth, vice president of Mission Integration,
Living Our Mission
These men and women cross all disciplines throughout the hospital including nurses, aides, engineers, physicians, volunteers, housekeepers, lab technicians, pharmacists, chaplains, food service and nutritionstaff … Every associate is part of each patients experience, as well as their loved ones. when they enter and exit our hospital.
Each patient has a story to tell and during National Nurses’ and Hospital Weeks, we celebrated those “Sacred Stories” and re-affirmed our Mission, which is to “reveal the healing love of Jesus to those in need.” People in need may include visitors. I have witnessed so many examples of associates reaching out to our visitors in need of assistance: a nurse in line at Tim Hortons helped a woman struggling with her walker and brought her water as an automatic response to her need; a volunteer getting a wheelchair for a patient struggling in the lobby; and an associate assisting a gentleman with too many things to carry to a patient. These examples are endless and they make a world of difference to patients and visitors at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.
Thank you to each of you who tirelessly make Kenmore Mercy Hospital shine as one of the best!
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Orthopedic Campus of Excellence
Home Care Key to Recovery for Orthopedic Patients Total hip or knee replacement surgery improves the lives of millions of people every year and the need will continue to grow, in part, due to people living longer and the cumulative wear and tear on joints.
Key to a successful recovery is referral to appropriate and effective follow-up care, which historically included subacute facilities. More recently the trend in patients discharging to home has increased. At Kenmore Mercy Hospital, this includes utilization of services like Catholic Health’s McAuley-Seton Home Care. In fact, since 2013, home care usage has increased by more than 10 percent for patients who had hip replacements, with a slighter lower increase for patient who received knee replacements. Discharge to home, with home-based rehabilitation, has been associated with reduced cost, improved clinical outcomes, and increased patient satisfaction.
New System Gives Physicians Detailed Images to Help Speed Diagnosis and Treatment Kenmore Mercy Hospital recently installed a new Artis zee® ceilingmounted angiography system that provides physicians with highly detailed images of patients’ anatomy during diagnostic and treatment procedures, while minimizing the patient’s exposure to radiation.
And unlike conventional X-ray techniques, the Artis zee system lacks the distortion of images while giving patients the lowest possible radiation dose, which is especially beneficial during lengthy angiographic procedures.
The flat detectors, made of amorphous silicon, not only enable physicians to visualize anatomical features, it also helps them visualize interventional devices, such as guidewires, catheters and coronary stents in precise detail, from almost any angle.
“This latest Radiology upgrade by Kenmore Mercy Hospital will provide our community with the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology available,” noted John Severins, manage of Imaging Services at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.
Developed by Siemens Medical Solutions, the fully digital Artis zee® features advanced technology in the form of flat-panel detectors, which enable physicians to obtain three-dimensional images in high resolution, without the distortion common with conventional x-ray techniques.
For patients, systems like this eliminate time-consuming and uncomfortable repositioning in the exam room, making the procedure quicker, less stressful, and less invasive, with less downtime and decreased risk of infections and complications.
During interventions, the compact flat-panel detector technology enables virtually all anatomical regions to be easily imaged. System functions can be performed via an intuitive tableside touch-screen display. This enables full system control, and leads to improved confidence during the procedure.
“It will allow for a higher quality of care with a greater rate of accuracy, which drives our goal of providing outstanding care with excellent patient safety,” he added.
A home-based care path also allows therapists the flexibility to combine education, patient and family engagement, and shared decision-making, while accommodating the patient’s unique needs in his or her own home. Through McAuley Seton Home Care, patients benefit from an aggressive rehabilitation program. Starting within 24 hours of discharge to home, they participate in therapy consecutive days in a row with the therapist assessing pain levels, medication effectiveness, and edema. If needed, nursing staff may be utilized to provide important education such as caring for the incision, recognizing signs of infections, and anticoagulant therapy.
The program’s ultimate goal is to provide high quality, comprehensive rehabilitation, education and support for patients to return them to the highest level of functioning and independence as quickly and safely as possible.
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Kathy Daley, Rob Morello, Tina McGee, Wendy Mack, and Maria Varga stand with the new Artis zee angiography system.
Welcome To Our New Physicians John J. Bodkin II, MD Family Practice
Dr. Bodkin is certified in family practice. He received his medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and completed his residency at Deaconess Hospital. He sees patients at the Highgate Medical Group in Amherst.
Joseph F. Fasanello, MD Family Practice
Dr. Fasanello is certified in family medicine. He received his medical degree at St. George’s University and completed his residency with the University at Buffalo Family Medicine Residency Program. He sees patients at HighGate Medical Group in Amherst.
Ronald J. Kossow, MD Radiology
Dr. Kossow is certified in radiation oncology. He received his medical degree at New York Medical College and completed his residencies at the Einstein Medical Center of Philadelphia and at the University of Minnesota. He sees patients at CCS Oncology in Williamsville.
at Buffalo School of Medicine and completed his residency at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. He sees patients at his office in Lackawanna.
David A. Pawlowski, MD Family Practice
Dr. Pawlowski is certified in family medicine. He received his medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and completed his residency at the Duke University Medical Center. He sees patients at HighGate Medical Group in Amherst.
Robert J. Schulman, MD Family Practice
Dr. Schulman is certified in pediatrics. He received his medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and completed his residency at Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. He sees patients at Ken-Ton FamilyCare in Tonawanda.
Jeffrey P. Steinig, MD Surgery
Vijayan A. Menon, MD Internal Medicine
Dr. Steinig is certified in general surgery. He received his medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and completed his residency at Milliard Fillmore Hospitals. He sees patients at his office in West Seneca.
Bruce J. Naughton, MD Internal Medicine
Dr. Trock is certified in family medicine. He received his medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Underwood Memorial Hospital. He sees patients at HighGate Medical Group in Amherst.
Dr. Menon is certified in pediatric cardiology. He received his medical degree from Kerala Medical College and completed his residency at North Shore Hospital. He sees patients at the Pediatric Cardiology Association of Western New York in Buffalo. Dr. Naughton specializes in geriatric medicine and is certified in hospice and palliative medicine, and internal medicine. He received his medical degree at the University
Surgical Services
Daniel Trock, MD Family Practice
Leo Krashefski, plumber, gives Lenny Price, electrician, a hand with some wire work in one of the new Operating Rooms.
Surgical Suite Construction Moves into Final Phases Construction of Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s new surgical suites has been moving along at a steady pace. After months of preparing the area, the actual construction of the operating rooms is now underway. The suites are expected to be open for cases starting in early July. Most recently, the main entrance to the operating room area was closed and a temporary entrance was set up near CCS Oncology.
To help keep operations running smoothly and in a timely fashion, some block time has also been booked for minor surgical procedures in the Emergency Department exam rooms.
“This project has been a tremendous team effort. I thank all of the groups involved in pulling things together,” said Walt Ludwig, chief operating officer. One group that deserves kudos is the Environmental Services and Maintenance teams who work alongside the construction crew and often times behind the scenes to get construction areas ready.
According to Dick Mariani, site manager for Environmental Services & Facilities, “Our plumbers and electricians have been diligent in reviewing how construction will affect water and electrical systems, while pinpointing shutdown times to have the least impact on patient care.” In addition, environmental services staff have been supporting projects on a daily basis by keeping areas clean and safe.
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Patient Experience & Safety
Partnering with Patients and Families Providing a Roadmap for the Future Improving the patient experience is challenging without the proper feedback and understanding of our patients and their family’s needs.
To help gain a better understanding, Kenmore Mercy Hospital has established it’s first ever Patient & Family Advisory Council.
Mobile Device Technology Improving Safety Rounds As part of the Steps for Safety initiative, teams at Kenmore Mercy, and all of Catholic Health, have adopted “Rounds Tracker,” from Walsh Integrated, to enhance their environmental rounds.
By using mobile devices like iPhones and iPads, the team can conduct their hazardous surveillance rounds electronically, taking detailed notes, creating reports, and sending emails to key individuals.
“We started using Rounds Tracker in April and it has already proven to be a time saver, reducing a lot of work previously done on paper and then entering into a computer tracking system,” said Dan Schrantz, manager of Health, Safety, and Environment at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Safety, along with Security, and Facilities supervisors,completes rounds of every single clinical unit at least twice a year. “We are looking for environment of care issues,” Schrantz added.
These rounds also serve as an opportunity to prepare staff for visits from the Department of Health and Joint Commission.
With a couple of meetings already under their belt, the council is excited, enthusiastic, and ready to make a difference. A few areas they have addressed include: information sharing, dignity and respect, and professionalism. The council specifically highlighted patients’ need to know the members of their care team, including: clear identification with name and photo; introduction upon meeting the patient; and use of and updating of room bulletin boards.
Kenmore Mercy Hospital recently celebrated its latest quality awards, the Get With The Guidelines®–Heart Failure Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award and Target Heart Failure Honor Roll Award, presented by the Americn Heart Association. “Gold Plus” is the highest level of recognition possible and signifies consistent adherence to the Get With The Guidelines quality measures over the course of at least 24 consecutive months.
Dr. McCrea, Jason Jankowiak, Julie LaManna, and Amy Baker, accept the “Gold Plus” award.
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Other key areas of focus that the council plans to address are cleanliness and communications.
“By truly partnering with these patients and families, we are gaining valuable insights to deliver better care, achieve better outcomes, and increase staff satisfaction,” added Rev. Nancy Faery, co-facilitator for the group.
If you are interested or know someone who may be interested in serving on the council, call 447-6914.
Hospital Receives Top Performance Award For Treating Heart Failure Patients
They also reduce unsafe conditions, which lead to a safer workplace for all Kenmore Mercy Hospital associates.
Dan Schrantz inspects the area for egress issues.
They also spent time talking about how Kenmore Mercy associates demonstrate our values. “Pride in one’s job, and treating both patients and fellow associates with kindness were reoccurring themes,” noted Kathy Kanaley, patient advocate for the hospital and co-facilitator for the council.
The hospital earned these awards for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation secondary prevention guidelines for
heart failure patients at a set level for a designated period. Quality measures include proper use of medications and aggressive riskreduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics and anticoagulants while patients are in the hospital. Before patients are discharged, they also receive education on managing their heart failure and overall health, as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation.
“Kenmore Mercy Hospital is committed to improving the long-term outcome for our patients,” said Harry E. McCrea, III, MD, chief of the Cardiology Department. “Implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure program is helping us accomplish this goal.”
Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure is a quality improvement program that helps hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.
Antibiotic Stewardship Program Earns National Attention Pharmacists at Kenmore Mercy are gaining national attention for their antibiotic stewardship program that is saving the hospital money and reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance in patients.
James Bartlett, PharmD, clinical pharmacist, and Patricia Siola, PharmD, MBA, PHD, FASHP, FACHE, pharmacy director, will be published in the American Journal of HealthSystem Pharmacy, on June 1, and were featured in a podcast on the subject in mid-May.
It is widely believed by health experts that using antibiotics may not always be the best first move in many cases. Bacteria are constantly evolving. The more we use antibiotics, the more bacteria adapt and become resistant to them, making the antibiotics ineffective at treating infection. “If antibiotics are needed, resistance is more likely to occur if the wrong antibiotic is selected or if the correct one is not used appropriately, “said Jeffrey Martinez, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. This means that choosing the right drug and the right dose at the right time, and using it for the right duration of treatment, is a priority.
“One of the unique features of our program is that it began through our
partnership with Catholic Medical Partners,” noted Siola. “We initially met and talked about how we could collaborate on an antibiotic stewardship initiative.”
Implemented in 2012, Kenmore Mercy’s antibiotic stewardship program is pharmacy led with an interdisciplinary team of infectious disease physicians, Nursing, Infection Control and Care Management available to review and make recommendations about patients on antibiotics. Since the hospital did not have any infectious disease-trained pharmacists on staff previously, Bartlett completed several certification programs and in turn trained other Kenmore Mercy pharmacists who now share antibiotic stewardship responsibilities on a weekly basis.
“This was a unique concept,” noted Bartlett. “While most large university hospital settings rely on dedicated pharmacists exclusively for antibiotic stewardship, Kenmore Mercy Hospital was very successful sharing responsibilities without exhausting or adding staff resources.” Within the first year of the program, the hospital saw a 25 percent decrease in antimicrobial expenditures from the prior year, with a nearly 18 percent decrease in defined daily doses per 1,000 patient days.
Clinical Integration
Cook Vinny Richter prepares chicken for lunch in the cafeteria.
Cafeteria Serving Up Antibiotic-Free Chicken Patients, staff and visitors to Kenmore Mercy Hospital can now enjoy a healthier version of their traditional lunch. The hospital’s menu now includes antibiotic-free chicken breasts. With the changes, the hospital is helping lead the trend toward serving healthier, antibiotic-free meats. The move to antibiotic-free chicken is the hospital’s latest initiative to promote a healthier community. It also offers, “Meatless Mondays,” “300 calorie Tuesdays” and is using biodegradable utensils and plates.
Kathy McAlpine, Food Services manager, explained, “The menu enhancements were spurred in part by concern about certain bacteria growing resistance to antibiotics.” According to the Food and Drug Administration, 80 percent of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used to promote faster growth in otherwise healthy animals and to compensate for unsanitary and overcrowded living conditions.
Meanwhile, the healthcare community is increasingly instituting policies to help combat antibiotic resistance in patient care and to minimize exposure to unnecessary antibiotics as part of broader environmental sustainability plans.
“Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to public health and patient safety with the declining effectiveness of key antibiotics,” said James Swiencicki, MD, an infectious disease specialist.
Dr. Martinez, Siola, and Bartlett, meet to review a patient’s medications.
“Infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens kill tens of thousands of Americans each year. Evolving scientific evidence demonstrates that antibiotic use in agriculture contributes to the development of resistant bacteria and their spread to humans. For this reason, it is vital we reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics in agriculture and support appropriate antibiotic use by clinicians and patients,” he added.
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Nursing News
Mary Whelan, RN, and Mary Jane Lodico, RN, talk with a patient on the Medical Rehabilitation Unit during shift handoff.
Nurses Plan for Ways to Improve Patient Perception At a recent Patient Experience Committee meeting, nurses identified that there is an opportunity for improvement in patient satisfaction scores when it comes to the patient’s perception of whether we are really listening to them or not.
To demonstrate that you are listening carefully, try the following tips: • Sit down and talk • Touch the patient • Make eye contact • Take time with patient • Look away from computer to look at the patient • Explain issues to the patient • Get to know the patient’s interests • Use the patient’s preferred name • Watch tone of voice • Introduce yourself to the patient • Say goodbye to patient when leaving shift handoff with next associate with the patient • Thank the patient for letting you take care of them • Listen with and from the heart
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Hospital Celebrates Nurses’ Week by Honoring Staff Kenmore Mercy Hospital kicked off National Nurses’ Week by recognizing some of its best nursing staff during a special ceremony.
Nancy Chojecki, BSN, MS, RN-BC, administrative nursing supervisor, was chosen as the 2014 Nurse of Distinction. She is a strong patient advocate who ensures patient’s concerns are resolved and that all their needs are met. Her influence has helped shape the nursing culture at Kenmore Mercy Hospital providing a calm environment for nurses and patients through her gentle approach. Melissa Caldwell, RN, BSN, 3 East Patient Care Unit, was chosen as the 2014 Outstanding Staff Nurse. She demonstrates a high level of quality nursing care and serves as a role model for her peers. Melissa is currently the chair of the hospital’s Shared Governance Committee and influences others by emulating professionalism and promoting teamwork. Eric Reid, Emergency Department, was chosen as 2014 Outstanding Nursing Attendant. He has been
Nancy Chojecki
Melissa Caldwell
described by many nurses and medical providers as, “always being there before you need him.” He is alert to what is going on in each room and anticipates the next step which is essential when caring for Emergency Department patients.
Deborah Micholas, RN, BSN, surgical recovery/orthopedic unit, received the 2014 Nursing Distinguished Preceptor Award from the University at Buffalo School of Nursing. She is also a clinical preceptor as part of University at Buffalo’s Dedicated Education Unit at the hospital. She has been described by her students as, “an amazing educator who challenges them to ask important questions.” Held annually, National Nurses Week begins on May 6 and focuses attention on the diverse ways America’s 3.1 million registered nurses work to save lives and to improve the health of millions of individuals. The week ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing.
Eric Reid
Deborah Micholas