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Hospital Hero Breathes
Life into Community COLUMBUS – Hospitals across the state united to recognize 75 health care heroes – including nurses, radiology technicians, social workers and more – who were nominated for this year’s Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award, presented by the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) last night. Every Ohio hospital was invited to nominate one person for this prestigious award, created in 1996 to honor a hospital employee who demonstrates leadership, reflects the values and ideals of Ohio’s health care facilities, goes above and beyond the call of duty, gives back to the community and has overcome odds to succeed.
OHA presented the award and recognized four
finalists during a recognition dinner tonight, in conjunction with the
association’s annual meeting at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. OHA also honored
all 75 nominees, not just the ultimate recipient, for being their hospital’s
choice for this distinction. Health Care Worker of the Year Award RECIPIENT: v Michael Kerr, EMT-P, regional learning CPR program instructor at Humility of Mary Health Partners St. Joseph’s Health Center in Warren teaches advanced life support skills to hundreds of doctors, nurses and other front line staff every year at St. Joseph, St. Elizabeth and St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Centers. Mike has traveled internationally to bring his skills to others in during crisis in Guam, Louisiana and Korea. He also serves as a volunteer firefighter. A frequent donor at the blood bank, Mike is one pint shy of the six-gallon mark. Health Care Worker of the Year Award FINALISTS: v Donna Oliver, RN, BSN, MBA, clinical manager, cardiothoracic/cardiology unit at Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights developed a new care model for her floor that is being implemented in other hospitals in the Cleveland Clinic system. She has also helped build two homes through Habitat for Humanity. v Karen Behm, chaplain at The Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati has been instrumental in launching the Red Rose Program and the “comfort cart” for dying patients to provide a home-like environment. She is involved with the Interfaith Hospitality Network that works with the homeless. v Ginnie Vogts, RN, LISW, coordinator for organ donation services at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus so compassionately cared for a woman in her passing that the patient’s family publicly thanked her in a newspaper obituary. As group leader and regional coordinator of RESULTS Columbus, Ginnie works through grassroots advocacy to end hunger and poverty locally. v Chris Beck, MBA, BA, RVT, manager, vascular lab and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation at Union Hospital in Dover Chris spearheads the UH TECH program for more than 100 teenagers who are learning about health care careers. He is also addressing the mortgage foreclosure crisis as a founding member of the Save Our Homes Task Force.
A complete list of all
75 nominees is available on the OHA Web site. Several other OHA awards honoring leaders in Ohio health care were also presented: v Donald R. Newkirk Award, recognizing Charles I. Adkins, Jr., Retired president and chief executive officer of Holzer Consolidated Health Systems in Gallipolis. This is OHA’s highest honor named for the association’s long-time former president. It recognizes a significant lifetime contribution to the health care field in Ohio.v Distinguished Service Award, honoring E. Dean Beck, administrator of Fulton County Health Center in Wauseon. The award celebrates CEOs or senior managers of OHA member organizations for their professional attainments as outstanding manager, leader, mentor, teacher, or service to the community. v Meritorious Service Award, honoring Thomas A. Saladin, M.D., vice president of academic affairs of Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. Focused on health care advocates, this award recognizes friends of hospitals or health systems whose support of the industry reflects the public interest. v Leadership Through Advocacy Award, honoring the Ohio Organization for Nurse Executives (OONE). The award was accepted by Grace Wakulchik, OONE president and vice president, patient services/CNO of Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Akron. This award recognizes an individual, hospital or health system that demonstrates the ability to effectively advocate in the legislative and regulatory arenas for the betterment of Ohio hospitals and the communities they serve. v William C. Kelley Safety Leadership Award, honoring Terry A. Gordon, D.O., cardiologist at Akron General Medical Center in Akron. The award recognizes demonstrated leadership in the field of community, occupational, patient or visitor safety. v Healthcare Consumer Advocacy Award, honoring Richard A. Paat, M.D., FACP, past chief of staff at St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee. The award recognizes an outstanding individual or organization that has made a significant impact on the quality of care for Ohio health care consumers. OHA also presented the following awards at separate events of the OHA Annual Meeting: v John Chapman Award, honoring Huron Hospital in Cleveland. The award was accepted by A. Gus Kious M.D., chief administrative officer of Huron Hospital. The award honors an Ohio hospital that has shown excellence in initiating or supporting hospital pollution-prevention programs. v Hospital Safety Awards, recognizing 22 hospitals statewide. The awards honor successful hospital safety programs and superior employee safety records. A list of the recipients is available on the OHA Web site. The Ohio Hospital Association was established in 1915 and currently represents 174 hospitals and 40 health systems throughout Ohio. OHA is a membership-driven organization that provides proactive leadership to create an environment in which Ohio hospitals are successful in serving their communities. Visit OHA’s Web site at www.ohanet.org. For information on top health care issues, visit the online OHA News Media Center at www.ohanet.org/media/.
The Ohio Hospital Association was established in 1915 and currently represents 174 hospitals and 40 health systems throughout Ohio. OHA is a membership-driven organization that provides proactive leadership to create an environment in which Ohio hospitals are successful in serving their communities. Visit OHA’s Web site at www.ohanet.or. For information on top health care issues, visit the online OHA News Media Center at www.ohanet.org/media/.
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