Free New York State Department of Health COVID-19 Testing Program at Samaritan Medical Center Ends

Watertown, N.Y. – The New York State Department of Health has ended the free, state-sponsored COVID-19 testing program at Samaritan’s Drive-Up Testing location, 1575 Washington St., Watertown. The state cited marked improvements in public health as the reason for the closure of the testing site.

The drive-up testing site had been open to the community since July 13, 2020. Samaritan staff were able to offer 9,000 free COVID-19 tests through the state-sponsored program.

Samaritan Health leadership has engaged in discussions with Jefferson County Public Health officials about ensuring members of the community have access to free testing, especially those who are un- or under-insured and those who need testing for travel or other purposes. This program closure does not impact other Samaritan patients who are currently using the drive-up testing site. Those with symptoms may still call Samaritan’s Resource Line at 315-755-3100 for questions and referrals to testing.

North Country Family Health Center (NCFHC) offers PCR COVID-19 rapid and send-out laboratory testing to anyone in the community in a drive-up testing site at its main campus on Arsenal Street. The Health Center participates with the Federal COVID-19 Uninsured Program to offer uninsured individuals the opportunity to get tested without worry of cost and bills health insurance companies for those who are insured. Any individual in need of a COVID-19 test may contact the Family Health Center at 315-775-7777 to make an appointment, Monday through Friday – individuals DO NOT need to be a Family Health Center patient to be tested.

“We continue to work with all our non-profit community partners to offer convenient and affordable COVID-19 testing and vaccination,” said Joey Marie Horton, North Country Family Health Center CEO. “Our Health Center’s mission is to improve access to needed healthcare services in our community – whether it is COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccinations, or other necessary healthcare, we have put services in place to make healthcare as convenient and cost effective as possible for community members to stay safe and healthy.”

North Country Family Health Center offers the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations during weekly vaccination clinics to any community member in need, to those with health insurance, those uninsured, or those underinsured. Any community member in need of a COVID-19 vaccination may call 315-782-9450 to schedule an appointment. The Family Health Center has provided over 6,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to date.

All community members are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as it is the best way to stop the spread and severity of the disease. There are many vaccination clinics available for free to eligible community members, including weekly Wednesday and Thursday clinics run by the Jefferson County Public Health Service. Visit www.jcphs.org to make an appointment or for more information.

Community members can also use New York State’s coronavirus website, which lists additional COVID-19 test and vaccination site locations, including local urgent care clinics and pharmacies.

Samaritan Foundation Awards Two Nurse Practitioner Scholarships

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center Foundation of Northern New York is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship – Desiree Fuller, RN, and Teresa Bednar, RN.

Both recipients currently work in Samaritan’s Emergency Department. Ms. Fuller, a 10-year Samaritan employee, is pursuing her M.S. in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from Utica College and Ms. Bednar, a 12-year employee is earning her Nurse Practitioner degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University.

The Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship was established in 2018 to assist with the education costs for an RN who is continuing their education, specifically to pursue a Nurse Practitioner degree. Two scholarships of $2,000 are awarded each year.

“I want a challenge and to grow in the field of nursing to the best of my ability,” Ms. Fuller said in her application. “Being a native in the North Country, I know there is a shortage of providers to care for people in our community and I can bridge that gap as an FNP.”

Mrs. Peters, who sadly passed away in March 2020, set up this scholarship because she wanted to make an impact on the future of nursing in our community while promoting the Nurse Practitioner profession. She was a 1965 graduate of the House of the Good Samaritan (HGS) Nursing School and spent over 20 years as a Nurse Manager in various areas, including Medical/Surgical and Orthopedics. She retired in 1999 as a Radiation Oncology Nurse.

For more information about the scholarship program, please contact the Foundation at 315-785-4584 or visit www.samaritanhealth.com/scholarships.

Samaritan Welcomes New Chief Nursing Officer

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce that Jacqueline Dawe, RN-BC, MN, CNOR, has been selected as its next Chief Nursing Officer & Vice President of Clinical Services. She brings more than 25 years of nursing experience to the role, including many years in management-level positions.

Jacqueline Dawe, RN-BC, MN, CNOR

Dawe comes to Samaritan from Oneida Healthcare, where she served as Vice President of Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer since 2017. Here, she was responsible for upwards of 170 staff members in various specialties, including pharmacy, emergency medicine, medical/surgical, obstetrics, intensive care, pediatrics, and more. Prior to this role, she spent 17 years in the LRGHealthcare System in New Hampshire, beginning as a Staff Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and departing as Senior Director of LRGHealthcare’s Franklin Regional Hospital. She also served as the health system’s Chief Nursing Officer from 2014 to 2016, managing more than 350 staff members.

“We are pleased to welcome Jacqueline to Samaritan’s administration and senior leadership team,” said Tom Carman, President and CEO of Samaritan Medical Center. “Her extensive nursing leadership background and track record of improving patient care will serve us well. We look forward to her guidance and insight as we continue to foster a patient- and resident-centric model of healthcare in our facilities.”

“I am thrilled to be part of the Samaritan team and build on the incredible work already being done by our nursing and patient care staff,” said Dawe. “I have worked in other healthcare systems and I see a lot of past success and potential at Samaritan, hence my decision to join this team. Specifically, I see a lot of opportunity to improve patient experience in the Emergency Department. Since this department interacts with nearly 50,000 patients a year, it is considered by many to be the ‘front door’ of our hospital and thus a high priority for improved efficiency and customer service here at Samaritan. To achieve this vision, goals include improving customer service for our patients and family members, and optimizing Emergency Department flow to reduce overcrowding and ultimately increase safe, quality, and timely care. These goals will take time and perseverance to achieve, and I truly believe we have the resources we need to be successful.”

Dawe holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix and a Masters of Nursing from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is Board Certified in Staff Development and is a Certified Perioperative Nurse. She began her employment at Samaritan on Monday, June 28, 2021.

Dawe replaces Kimberly Thibert, who served as Chief Nursing Officer from March 2015 until her retirement in June 2021.

Samaritan Celebrates June 2021 DAISY and BEE Award Recipients

Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for June 2021. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff at the hospital and all outpatient clinics, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who support patient care.

Pablo Otero, RN, OCN, of the Walker Center for Cancer Care, received the DAISY Award and Mark Cloonan, Storeroom Lead Worker, was honored with the BEE Award. Otero was nominated by a grateful patient, and Cloonan was nominated by a staff member at Samaritan Medical Center.

Otero received the DAISY Award for offering exceptional care, compassion, and friendship to his patients in the Cancer Center. His nominator, who has been a patient of his for a year and a half, credits Otero in large part for her lung cancer remission.

“At the Cancer Center, there are usually two nurse per unit, but he [Otero] always made time for me because he knew I needed a friend,” she writes. “I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t taken me under his wing and not given up and not let me give up. We fought together.”

For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Otero was presented a certificate commending him as an extraordinary nurse, a DAISY Award pin, and a symbolic sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of this sculpture is on display in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.

Cloonan received the BEE Award for his positivity, follow-through, and willingness to help others.

“Mark is one of the most accommodating members of our Samaritan Team,” his nomination letter reads. “Whether you call him or meet him in the hall, he drops what he is doing to assist you with your request. He is a warm welcome to the patient-care areas as he makes his deliveries with such a cheerful and collaborative approach.”

Cloonan was presented a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.

Both awards will continue to be presented throughout the year, and nominations can be submitted by patients, families, or colleagues at any time. To make a nomination, or to learn more about the DAISY and BEE Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.

Samaritan Medical Center Receives 4 out of 5 Stars for Overall Hospital Quality

High rating reflects Samaritan’s ongoing efforts to enhance safety and quality for its patients

Watertown, N.Y. – Samaritan Medical Center has achieved a four-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in their Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. Despite the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic this past year, the hospital outperformed last year’s rating of three out of five stars, which represents the national average.

The Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating encompasses more than 50 inpatient and outpatient measures across five areas of quality into a single star rating (between one and five) for each hospital. The five areas include mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care. The rating corresponds with data submitted to CMS by Samaritan in October 2020.

“The four-star rating reflects our successful efforts to continuously improve patient safety and quality of care at Samaritan Medical Center,” said CEO Thomas H. Carman. “Our robust Quality and Safety Program includes a comprehensive review of over 30 quality and safety indicators, each having set targets that we strive to achieve. We also regularly conduct focus groups within our organization to help reduce preventable readmissions, decrease hospital-acquired conditions and increase our patients’ overall experience while under our care.”

“I cannot thank all of our Samaritan caregivers enough for their unwavering commitment to our patients and residents during what has been a challenging year for all of us, and healthcare in general,” Carman added.

To learn more about CMS’ Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, click here.

Samaritan Opens New Community-Based Imaging Center

Convenient Location in Health & Wellness Plaza Offers Full Spectrum of Imaging Services

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce the opening of a new community-based imaging facility inside its Health & Wellness Plaza location at 1575 Washington St.

The new office, which officially opened June 28, 2021, provides comprehensive community-based imaging services complete with MRI, PET, and CT scans, ultrasound, x-ray, mammography, stereotactic breast biopsies and more. It is the latest development in Samaritan’s ongoing commitment to consolidate and align services, streamline patient access and enhance the continuity of care.

Currently, SMC handles over 100,000 radiology and imaging procedures per year.

“We are so excited to open this new imaging center here at the Health and Wellness Plaza location,” said Thomas H. Carman, President and CEO of Samaritan. “This is truly an outpatient, community location where people can come to receive advanced imaging services without having to enter the hospital. It will make things much easier for our patients.”

The imaging center’s opening is the culmination of an agreement finalized in February between Samaritan and the now closed Northern Radiology Imaging (NRI), in which Samaritan purchased all equipment from NRI and hired some of the practice’s staff. Physician staff was unaffected by the acquisition, with radiologists from Northern Radiology continuing to provide image interpretation services for Samaritan at all its locations, as they have for years through their private practice, Northern Radiology Associates.

Samaritan continues to offer imaging services including MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, X-ray and more at its main hospital location, plus X-ray and ultrasound services at various community-based sites. These sites provide access to walk-in and appointment-based imaging and lab services.

Any patient with radiology/imaging needs should call our central scheduling office at 315-779-5200 to make an appointment. Please remember a physician’s order is required to make an appointment. See all of our imaging locations at samaritanhealth.com/imaging.

Samaritan Medical Center Now Offering Advanced Robotic-Arm-Assisted Joint Replacement with Stryker’s Mako SmartRobotics™ System

Innovative robotic technology allows orthopedic surgeons to personalize total knee, partial knee and total hip replacement procedures to each patient in the North Country

Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is the first hospital in the region to offer robotic-assisted joint replacement with the Mako SmartRobotics™ system. This advancement in joint replacement surgery transforms the way total knee, partial knee and total hip replacements are performed, by helping our surgeons know more and minimize incisions.

Mako SmartRobotics™ combines three key components – 3D CT-based planning, AccuStop haptic technology and insightful data analytics – into one platform that has shown better outcomes for total knee, total hip and partial knee patients.6-8

“With Mako SmartRobotics™, I know more about my orthopedic patients than ever before, and I’m able to make more calculated incisions,” said Dr. David Newman of Samaritan Orthopedics. “For some patients, this can mean less soft tissue damage3,4; for others, greater bone preservation.2,5 Mako’s 3D CT allows me to create a personalized plan based on each patient’s unique anatomy before entering the operating room. During surgery, I can validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments while guiding the robotic arm as I execute that plan. It’s exciting to be able to offer this transformative technology for patients that need a total knee, total hip and partial knee replacements.”

“We recently performed our first robotic-assisted orthopedic surgery at Samaritan and it went very well,” said Dr. Newman. “I am pleased to offer more local patients this option as we help them alleviate their pain. We already have several patients seeking this advanced surgical option.”

Total knee replacements in the United States are expected to increase 189% by 2030,9 yet studies have shown that approximately 20% of patients are dissatisfied after conventional surgery.10 Mako Total Knee combines Stryker’s advanced robotic technology with its clinically successful Triathlon Total Knee System, which enables surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased precision and accuracy.11 In clinical studies, Mako Total Knee demonstrated the potential for patients to experience less pain, less need for opiate analgesics, less need for inpatient physical therapy, reduction in length of hospital stay, improved knee flexion and greater soft tissue protection in comparison to manual techniques.3,7

Mako SmartRobotics™ for Partial Knee replacement is a treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. In surgery, the surgeon guides the robotic arm during bone preparation to execute the predetermined surgical plan and position the implant. By selectively targeting only the part of the knee damaged by osteoarthritis, surgeons can resurface the diseased portion of the knee while helping to protect the healthy bone surrounding the knee joint.4 Studies have shown that robotic-arm assisted partial knee replacement, leads to greater accuracy of implant position to plan compared to manual partial knee replacement procedures.12,13

By 2030, total hip replacements in the United States are projected to grow 171%.9 Mako SmartRobotics™ for Total Hip is a treatment option for adults who suffer from degenerative joint disease of the hip. In surgery, the surgeon guides the robotic arm during bone preparation to prepare the hip socket and position the implant according to the predetermined surgical plan. In a controlled matched-paired study to measure acetabular bone resection, results suggested greater bone preservation for Mako Total Hip compared to manual surgery.2

“We are proud to be the first hospital in our area to offer this highly advanced SmartRobotics™ technology,” said Tom Carman, President and CEO of Samaritan Medical Center. “This addition to our orthopedic service line further demonstrates our commitment to provide the community with outstanding healthcare. This SmartRobotics™ system is the third major robotics platform we have invested in for our patients and surgeons.”

Learn more about the SmartRobotics™ system and what it offers at samaritanhealth.com/orthorobotics.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Knee and hip replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, fracture of the neck of the femur or functional deformity of the hip.

Knee joint replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative, rheumatoid and post- traumatic arthritis, and for moderate deformity of the knee.

Joint replacement surgery is not appropriate for patients with certain types of infections, any mental or neuromuscular disorder which would create an unacceptable risk of prosthesis instability, prosthesis fixation failure or complications in postoperative care, compromised bone stock, skeletal immaturity, severe instability of the joint, or excessive body weight.

Like any surgery, joint replacement surgery has serious risks which include, but are not limited to, pain, infection, bone fracture, change in the treated leg length (hip), joint stiffness, hip joint fusion, amputation, peripheral neuropathies (nerve damage), circulatory compromise (including deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs)), genitourinary disorders (including kidney failure), gastrointestinal disorders (including paralytic ileus (loss of intestinal digestive movement)), vascular disorders (including thrombus (blood clots), blood loss, or changes in blood pressure or heart rhythm), bronchopulmonary disorders (including emboli, stroke or pneumonia), heart attack, and death.

Implant related risks which may lead to a revision of the implant include dislocation, loosening, fracture, nerve damage, heterotopic bone formation (abnormal bone growth in tissue), wear of the implant, metal and/or foreign body sensitivity, soft tissue imbalance, osteolysis (localized progressive bone loss), audible sounds during motion, reaction to particle debris , and reaction to metal ions (ALTR). Knee and hip implants may not provide the same feel or performance characteristics experienced with a normal healthy joint.

The information presented is for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is appropriate for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same activity level. The lifetime of any joint replacement is limited and depends on several factors like patient weight and activity level. Your doctor will counsel you about strategies to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device, including avoiding high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It is important to closely follow your doctor’s instructions regarding post-surgery activity, treatment and follow-up care. Ask your doctor if a joint replacement is right for you.

Stryker Corporation or its other divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: AccuStop, Mako, SmartRobotics, Stryker, Triathlon. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.

REFERENCES
  1. Bell SW, Anthony I, Jones B, MacLean A, Rowe P, Blyth M. Improved accuracy of component positioning with robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: data from a prospective, randomized controlled study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016;98(8):627-635. doi:10.2106/JBJS.15.00664
  2. Illgen RL, Bukowski BR, Abiola R, et al. Robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty: outcomes at minimum two year follow up. Surg Technol Int. 2017;30:365-372.
  3. Mahoney O, Kinsey T, Mont M, Hozack W, Orozco F, Chen A. Can computer generated 3D bone models improve the accuracy of total knee component placement compared to manual instrumentation? A prospective multi-center evaluation. Poster presented at: 32nd Annual Congress of the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty; October 2-5, 2019; Toronto, Canada.
  4. Suarez-Ahedo C, Gui C, Martin TJ, Chandrasekaran S, Lodhia P, Domb BG. Robotic-arm assisted total hip arthroplasty results in smaller acetabular cup size in relation to the femoral head size: a matched-pair controlled study. Hip Int. 2017;27(2):147-152. doi:10.5301/hipint.5000418
  5. Kayani B, Konan S, Pietrzak JRT, Haddad FS. Iatrogenic bone and soft tissue trauma in robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty compared with conventional jig-based total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study and validation of a new classification system. J Arthroplasty. 2018;33(8):2496-2501. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2018.03.042
  6. Hozack WJ. Multicentre analysis of outcomes after robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty. Bone Joint J:Orthop Proc. 2018;100-B(Supp_12):38.
  7. Banks SA. Haptic robotics enable a systems approach to design of a minimally invasive modular knee arthroplasty. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ0. 2009;38(2 Suppl):23-27.
  8. Hampp E, Chang TC, Pearle A. Robotic partial knee arthroplasty demonstrated greater bone preservation compared to robotic total knee arthroplasty. Poster presented at: Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting; February 2-5, 2019; Austin, TX.
  9. Piazza S. Designed to maintain collateral ligament stability throughout the range of motion. Stryker-Initiated Dynamic Computer Simulations of Passive ROM and Oxford Rig Test. 2003.
  10. Wang H, Simpson KJ, Ferrara MS, Chamnongkich S, Kinsey T, Mahoney OM. Biomechanical differences exhibited during sit-to-stand between total knee arthroplasty designs of varying radii. J Arthroplasty. 2006;21(8):1193-1199. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2006.02.172
  11. Gómez-Barrena E, Fernandez-García C, Fernandez-Bravo A, Cutillas-Ruiz R, Bermejo-Fernandez G. Functional performance with a single-radius femoral design total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010;468(5):1214-1220. doi:10.1007/s11999-009-1190-2

Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Applications Available Through Samaritan Foundation

The Samaritan Medical Center Foundation is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 4th annual Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship.

Susan Peters, a retired nurse from Samaritan Medical Center, established the scholarship in 2018 through the Samaritan Medical Center Foundation for registered nurses (RNs) looking to advance their careers as nurse practitioners. Two scholarships of $2,000 are awarded each year.

Sadly, Mrs. Peters passed away in March 2020. She graduated from the former House of the Good Samaritan School of Nursing and served as a staff RN and a nurse manager of Samaritan’s Medical/Surgical, Orthopaedic and Alternate Level of Care units for more than 20 years. She retired from Samaritan Medical Center in 1999 as a certified oncology nurse.

“Susan so generously established this scholarship to promote the nurse practitioner profession because she felt there is an increasing need for these professionals due to the nationwide shortage of physicians,” said Beth Fipps, Vice President of Samaritan Foundation and Community Services.

Nurse practitioners are able to provide many of the same services as physicians, including developing treatment plans for their patients, ordering tests, performing minor procedures and prescribing medication.

The 2020 Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship recipients were Cindy Keenan and Lindsey Williams.

The application period for the Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship opens June 1, 2021 and concludes July 15, 2021. A scholarship award announcement will take place on August 1, 2021.

To be eligible for this scholarship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be an RN with a minimum of two full years’ working experience. RNs currently working for Samaritan Medical Center preferred, but not mandatory.
  • Medical/Surgical experience preferred but not necessary.
  • Must be a resident of either Jefferson or Lewis County, New York
  • Eligible to apply after successful completion of first semester in a Nurse Practitioner program with at least a B average.

As part of the application, RNs must describe why they are pursuing their nurse practitioner degree and where, as well as whether or not they have a financial need. Two letters of recommendation and a transcript must be submitted with the application to support the applicant’s pursuit of a nurse practitioner degree.

For more information, or to obtain a scholarship application, please contact the Samaritan Foundation at 315-785-4584 or visit samaritanhealth.com/scholarships. Completed forms can be emailed or mailed to [email protected] or 830 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601.

Samaritan Celebrates May 2021 DAISY and BEE Award Recipients

Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for May 2021. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff at the hospital and all outpatient clinics, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who support patient care.

Valerie Hasner, Staff RN, Pediatrics, received the DAISY Award and Charles Quinn, Maintenance, was honored with the BEE Award. Quinn was nominated by a Samaritan colleagues, and Hasner was nominated by a grateful patient family member.

Hasner received the DAISY Award for her compassion and dedication to providing top-quality patient care.

“My son was admitted to the Pediatric Unit twice. Ms. Hasner was our nurse for the three days that we were there,” the nomination letter reads. “She worked tirelessly to make sure that my son was cared for, and comfortable. She went above and beyond to ensure that I understood all of the tests, and talked me through many tears. She was the most compassionate person I have ever met, and her love for her job was evident. I am grateful to have been lucky enough that my son was under her care during such a difficult and scary time for us.”

For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Hasner was presented a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse, a DAISY Award pin, and a symbolic sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of this sculpture is on display in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.

Quinn was nominated for the BEE Award for his warm, welcoming nature and for performing duties outside his job description to help Samaritan’s patients.

“Charlie promptly responds to any needs to ensure patient and staff safety needs are met,” his nomination letter reads. “In addition, he greets all he encounters with a warm welcome. Yesterday, I watched as Charlie met a man wheeling himself in a wheelchair with one leg. Charlie turned around and walked beside him, allowing the gentleman to maintain his independence but also ensuring that he got to where he was headed. Charlie began a casual conversation as if he was acquainted. Then finally, he turned and asked if there was anything else he could do for this gentleman, wished him well and thanked him for choosing Samaritan. This is a common practice for Charlie.”

Quinn was presented a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.

Both awards will continue to be presented throughout the year, and nominations can be submitted by patients, families, or colleagues at any time. To make a nomination, or to learn more about the DAISY and BEE Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.

Samaritan Celebrates April 2021 DAISY and BEE Award Recipients

Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for April 2021. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff at the hospital and all outpatient clinics, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who support patient care.

Ami Mitteer, Staff RN Float, received the DAISY Award and Sally Carrese, Environmental Services, was honored with the BEE Award. Both honorees were nominated by Samaritan colleagues and selected by a committee.

Mitteer was nominated for her reliability, positive attitude, and confidence working in various departments throughout Samaritan Medical Center.

“Amy floated on our department without batting an eye with her consistent warm smile and collaborative demeanor,” the nomination letter reads. “She is a quick learner and maintains a confident approach to each and every assignment to ensure it is safe and enjoyable. There was never apprehension or negativity. She was such a breath of fresh air and such a joy to work with.”

For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Mitteer was presented a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse, a DAISY Award pin, and a symbolic sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of this sculpture is on display in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.

Carrese was nominated for the BEE Award for her patient-focused approach to her work and her true understanding of how her work can keep patients safe:

“Sally is instrumental in keeping our patients safe on Maternity,” her nomination letter reads. “She works hard every day ensuring rooms are cleaned to the highest standard. I have overheard Sally when she orients new staff, explaining to them the importance of cleaning properly to keep patients safe. She truly understands and passes on this knowledge to those she teaches. She is a role model for anyone working in Environmental Services (EVS).”

Carrese was presented a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.

Both awards will continue to be presented throughout the year, and nominations can be submitted by patients, families, or colleagues at any time. To make a nomination, or to learn more about the DAISY and BEE Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.

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