Griffin Hospital in Derby honors employees at awards dinner

In celebration of National Hospital Week

 

Johanne Cayer of Ansonia won Griffin Hospital’s Employee of the Year for 2014-15. / Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital recently honored more than 175 employees who reached service milestones and announced its employee and department of the year award winners at its 44th Annual Service Awards Dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Southbury.

Johanne Cayer of Ansonia, was named Griffin Hospital’s 2014-15 Employee of the Year, Eunice Lisk of Stratford, won The Spirit of Planetree Award and the hospital’s Surgical Services and Dining Services were named Co-Departments of the Year.

At an Olympics-themed celebration, Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel handed out gifts to employees who worked at Griffin for more than 20 years and made the award announcements. 
The celebration is held each year during National Hospital Week to recognize employees and physicians for years of service and for outstanding performance.

Cayer Named Top Employee

Johanne Cayer is a six-year employee with Griffin Hospital’s Environmental Services Department.

She was nominated for Employee of the Year for her outstanding work ethic in maintaining the high standards for cleanliness in the hospital’s Emergency Department and for exceeding expectations in making sure the ED makes a good first impression on patients.

“Johanne willingly takes on new tasks and immediately corrects any unsafe conditions. She takes pride and ownership in everything she does,” Charmel said in giving out the award. “Regardless of the situation at hand, or what is asked of her, Johanne treats everyone with respect, honesty, and courtesy.”

The hospital's Employee of the Year selections come from its monthly ITIP (I Take It Personally) program where employees are nominated by their colleagues for the honor. Each month, one employee is selected from the hospital’s four service divisions - Ancillary, Nursing, Service and Support - for his or her efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin Hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care. Of these employees, four are selected as finalists for the honor of “Employee of the Year.” 
In addition to Cayer, Kelly Miller, RN, of Griffin's Nursing Department, Elizabeth Brana, of the Respiratory Department, and Janice Bowers, of the Occupational Medical Center, were finalists for the top honor. 

Griffin Hospital’s 2014 Spirit of Planetree Award Winner Eunice Lisk of Stratford poses with Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel, right, and the 2013 Spirit of Planetree Award winner Michael Currie. / Contributed photo

Lisk Wins Spirit of Planetree

Lisk has headed Griffin Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Department for the past five years as its manager.

Lisk was selected for the Spirit of Planetree Award for being an exceptional team leader who offers support and guidance to her patients and staff. 
She spearheaded renovations to the employee gym, promotes the hospital’s health and wellness services to the community and has introduced innovative, patient-centered programs through the hospital’s Planetree Steering Committees.

“Eunice truly exemplifies what a caregiver should be,” Charmel said. “Her passion, positive outlook, and innovative spirit have made her an invaluable member to the Griffin team.”

The Spirit of Planetree Awards recognizes healthcare workers who promote patient- and person-centered care by personalizing the health care experience.

Surgical Services and Dining Services Named Departments of the Year

Griffin Hospital’s Surgical Services and Dining Services were named the Co-Departments of the Year for 2014.

Surgical Services was honored for expanding the number of patients it serves and attracting new surgeons to the community. The Surgical Services staff became skilled in eight new procedures in the past year and learned the routines of 14 new surgeons. 
In addition, Surgical Services has helped Griffin’s International Surgery Program continued to grow, treating 103 international patients in 2013.

“The Surgical Services team has made continuous improvements to the department’s operations that have dramatically improved patient satisfaction and safety,” Charmel said. “On-time starts in the O.R. have improved to 71 percent as staff has made a commitment to improve communication and operating efficiency.”

The Dining Services Department at Griffin Hospital earned Co-Department of the Year for providing numerous services to meet the needs of patients, their families, visitors, and hospital employees. In 2013, Dining Services transformed the patient meal experience with the implementation of In-Room Dining in which inpatient meal orders taken at the bedside to make sure individual patient’s nutritional needs and requirements are met. Dining Services also showed a commitment to the environment by offering local vegetables, fish and poultry, and starting programs to reduce the use of paper products and using bio-degradable takeout containers.

“The Dining Services Department strives to be an essential part of all hospital operations through its participation and support of many initiatives,” Charmel said. “The staff’s can-do attitude and willingness to accommodate each and every patient has distinguished them from others.”

The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments are honored annually as “Department of the Quarter.”
In addition to the Surgical Services and Dining Services, Department of the Quarter winners were Medical Records and the 1 North Unit.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Farmland preservationists honor Gentile

     The Working Lands Alliance has recognized State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, for her work to preserve Connecticut’s disappearing farmland. 

   She received the legislative leadership award for her work as Environment Committee co-chair that led to passage of the bill to protect prime state-owned agricultural land at Southbury Training School.

     “Connecticut’s farmland is a valuable economic resource,” Gentile said. “The state has turned a corner and is working very hard to aid local farms, protect farmland and reach our goal of 21 % open space by 2023.”

     WLA Project Director Lisa Bassani said, “The Working Lands Alliance is honoring Rep. Gentile with our legislative leadership award for her incredible dedication to Connecticut agriculture and farmland preservation efforts. With her support, Connecticut permanently protected the ‘crown jewel’ of state-owned farmland at the Southbury Training School, ensuring these prime agricultural lands will remain in farming.”

     The General Assembly has made a strong two-year commitment to farmland preservation by authorizing another $10 million per-year in bonding for open space.

     The Working Lands Alliance was formed in 1999 with the purpose of preserving Connecticut’s most precious natural resource – its farmland. 

      WLA is a coalition whose supporters include more than 600 individuals and 200 businesses and organizations that include farmers, conservationists, anti-hunger groups, planners and local food enthusiasts.  

    

   This is the 35th anniversary of Connecticut’s Farmland Preservation Program – notably one of the oldest programs of its kind in the country.

This is a press release from Gentile's office.

Seymour police ID victim of fatal crash

SEYMOUR >> Police on Friday identified the man killed in a fiery one-car accident earlier this week as 51-year old Mark Beers of Southbury.


Lt. Paul Satkowski in a press release issued Friday said a positive identification was made following an autopsy by the state’s chief medical examiner’s office.
Beers resided at 158 Quaker Farms Road.
“Manner and cause of death has been determined to be multiple blunt force trauma caused from the accident,” Satkowski said.
Satkowski said the accident, which occurred Sept. 4 on Rimmon Road, also known as Route 313, remains under investigation.
“The accident remains under investigation pending toxicology results which are expected to take several weeks to complete,” Satkowski added.
The accident occurred around 10:45 p.m. Satkowski said Beers’ Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was found off the side of the road, crashed into a tree, engulfed in flames.

A preliminary investigation revealed the truck was pulling a small landscape trailer, and traveling west on Rimmon Road. For unknown reasons, Satkowski said the driver “failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, causing the vehicle to drive off the right side of the roadway, up a wooden embankment and striking a tree nearly head on.”

Fiery Seymour crash claims life of Southbury man

SEYMOUR >> A 51-year old Southbury man was killed in a fiery, one-car crash late Tuesday.

According to Lt. Paul Satkowski, Seymour police are continuing an investigation into the fatal accident that occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Rimmon Road, also known as Route 313, near the Woodbridge town line.
Satkowski said police, along with the Seymour Fire Department and Seymour Ambulance Association, arrived on the scene and found the vehicle on the side of the road, crashed into a tree and on fire.
“Upon arrival, responding officers located a single motor vehicle off the side of the roadway crashed into a tree resting on a wooded embankment, fully engulfed in flames,” Satkowski said in a prepared statement Wednesday.
Satkowski said the vehicle sustained significant damage. He said preliminary reports from an eyewitness reported the driver of the vehicle was still inside, and possibly trapped.
“First responders were unable to get near the vehicle due to the intense heat and flames of the fire,” Satkowski said. “Once the fire was extinguished, the remains of a human body were located inside of the vehicle.”
Satkowski said the identity of the driver likely won’t be released until an autopsy is performed Thursday by the state Medical Examiner’s Office. However, he said a “tentative identification” of the driver had been made.
A preliminary investigation revealed the vehicle, a Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck, was pulling a small landscape trailer, and traveling west on Rimmon Road. For reasons unknown at this point, Satkowski said the driver “failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, causing the vehicle to drive off the right side of the roadway, up a wooden embankment and striking a tree nearly head on.”

Satkowski further added “upon impact with the tree, the vehicle immediately burst into flames. The operator, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was unable to escape the vehicle and was burned beyond recognition and therefore pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Satkowski said traffic had to be re-routed around the crash scene for several hours Tuesday night following the accident.

The accident remains under investigation by the police department’s Accident Reconstruction team. Satkowski said assistance during the incident was provided by the Seymour Fire Marshal’s Office, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Connecticut State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Squad.

Griffin Hospital honors employees at annual event in Southbury

Derby's Griffin Hospital recently honored more than 180 employees who reached service milestones and announced its employee award winners at its 43^rd Annual Service Awards Dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Southbury.

Susan Gucwa-Bucasas was named Griffin Hospital’s 2013-14 Employee of the Year, Michael Currie won The Spirit of Planetree Award and the Childbirth Center at Griffin Hospital was named Department of the Year.

Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel handed out gifts to employees who worked at Griffin for more than 20 years and made the award announcements at the ceremony, held each year during National Hospital Week to recognize employees and physicians for years of service and for outstanding performance.

This year’s Employee of the Year Susan Gucwa-Bucasas, center, and last year’s winners Bonnie Halligan, RN, left, and Pat Thibodeau. / Contributed photo

Gucwa-Bucasas Named Top Employee

Gucwa-Bucasas is a 10-year employee of Griffin Hospital and currently the Nurse Manager of Regulatory Compliance.

She was nominated for Employee of the Year for exemplifying the Griffin Hospital Customer Service Standards and the Planetree Model of Care in her daily work, and for being a team player who is consistently responsive to departmental needs and always willing to help with both education and training.

“Susan takes her job responsibilities seriously, and strives to share information from the various regulators, including the Joint Commission, the Department of Health, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, always in a manner that is pertinent to each individual department,” Charmel said in giving out the award. “Susan is always available when asked to assist with interpretations and with performance improvement plans, and diligently helps the entire organization to prepare for surveys and to develop corrective action plans, when indicated.”

The hospital's Employee of the Year selections come from its monthly ITIP (I Take It Personally) program, in which employees are nominated by their colleagues for the honor. Each month, one employee is selected from the hospital’s four service divisions - Ancillary, Nursing, Service and Support - for his or her efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin Hospital’s commitment to patient driven care.. Of these employees, four are selected as finalists for the honor of “Employee of the Year.”

In addition to Gucwa-Bucasas, Michael Currie, Nancy Corvigno and June Newton, MST, were finalists for the top honor.

Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel, left, congratulates Spirit of Planetree Award winner Michael Currie.

Currie Wins Spirit of Planetree
Michael Currie has been a full-time employee at Griffin Hospital since March 2008 as a member of its Environmental Services department.

He was selected for the Spirit of Planetree Award for his commitment to excellent service, professionalism and his ability to create a positive work environment.
His care for Griffin’s customers, patients and family members has made him a great asset to the hospital, Charmel said.

“Mike has a passion for seeking out work and ensuring the outcome is positive,” he said. “He is known by his peers for his kindness and energy. He is seen as a very positive person and exhibits a ‘win-win’ philosophy. The combination of his ethical standards and vast experience enable him to be an excellent mentor to other employees. He is highly respected by those with whom he comes in contact and is an exemplary role model to others. Mike represents the hospital well as he strives for excellence in problem solving.”

The Spirit of Planetree Awards recognizes healthcare workers who promote patient- and person-centered care by personalizing the health care experience.

Childbirth Center Named Department of the Year

The Childbirth Center was named the Griffin Hospital Department of the Year for 2013 in recognition of its quality and continued high patient satisfaction.

Approximately 700 babies are delivered at Griffin’s Childbirth Center annually by obstetricians who are active members of Griffin’s medical staff, including: Dr. Michael O’Reilly (Chairman of the Department), Dr. Roy Kalman, Dr. Neelima Kaushal, Dr. Rudali Rawal, Dr. Cynthia Ronan and Dr. Scott Vander Vennet.  Together with the staff of the Childbirth Center, they ensure that mother, baby and family have an exceptional patient experience as affirmed by a patient satisfaction rate of over 98%.

Griffin’s CBC nurses have always demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and commitment to mothers and their babies. Nearly 80 percent of the nurses are certified in their specialty and they have offered Healthy Beginnings - the state’s only post-partum return visit program for mothers and babies - free of charge for 19 years.
The Center maintains a 95 percent return rate for these visits, ensuring that any issues with mother or baby are identified early and resolved.
Baby-Friendly Designation

Last October, the Childbirth Center received Baby-Friendly Designation from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, joining a select group of only 159 U.S. hospitals and birthing centers that have achieved Baby-Friendly Designation. Griffin is the only hospital in the country to have also achieved Planetree Patient Centered Designation.
The designation shows the commitment to helping parents make informed choices about feeding and caring for their babies.

Earlier this year the Childbirth Center implemented the Peri-Gen Central Monitoring System, an advanced fetal surveillance system with unique clinical decision support-based applications that include fetal heart rate pattern recognition software and labor progression software that are early warning systems for clinical problems.

Griffin’s CBC is dedicated to the community with a staff of Certified Infant Car Seat technicians that ensure the safety of newborns leaving the Center and its recent initiation of the “Read to Grow” program dedicated to improving early literacy for children.
The CBC staff hosts an Annual Baby Fair for babies born at Griffin in the previous year and their family.
Baby Fair attendance continues to grow each year at the fun day event, and more than 40 vendors exhibited at the 2013 fair.

“The combination of clinical quality, many unique programs and services, a patient and family centered environment and nurses, physicians, and other professionals who are specifically trained in providing patient-centered maternal and newborn care continue to differentiate Griffin’s Childbirth Center from others and maintain it as a Center of Excellence,” Charmel said.
“The recent accomplishments are impressive, are a source of pride for the hospital and our community and certainly make the Childbirth Center worthy of being named Department of the Year.”

Four hospital departments are honored annually as “Department of the Quarter,” with one selected as “Department of the Year.”
In addition to the Childbirth Center, Department of the Quarter winners were Business Services, Professional Development/School of Allied Health Careers, and the Infusion Center.

This information is taken from a press release from Griffin Hospital.  

Griffin welcomes Southbury physician to network

Dr. Richard N. Biondi

Griffin Faculty Practice, an affiliate of Griffin Hospital in Derby, is pleased to welcome Dr. Richard N. Biondi, to its network of primary care physicians.

A long-serving physician based in Southbury, Biondi officially joins Griffin Faculty Practice on March 4 and will continue to offer primary care full-time at his office at 1 Pomperaug Office Park.

Actively practicing in the greater Southbury community since 1976, Dr. Biondi has served as medical consultant for the Region 15 School District and Corporate Medical Director at the Chemtura Corp. 

He was a staff physician at St. Mary’s Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinic in Naugatuck for the past three years. 

Biondi was the Corporate Medical Director for Uniroyal Chemical Co. and Crompton Corp. in Middlebury.

A board-certified internist, Biondi earned his medical degree at Creighton University School of Medicine in Nebraska before completing an internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City and his internal medicine residency at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. 

He was a Major in the U.S. Army for two years before being chosen for a pulmonary fellowship at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury.

For information or to schedule an appointment with Biondi, call 203-264-3130.

Griffin Faculty Practice provides patient-centered, personalized care throughout the community, with primary care locations in Derby, Seymour, Shelton, and Oxford. In addition, the practice provides specialized geriatrics care, breast surgery, and integrative medicine. Visit www.griffinfacultypractice.org.

This information was taken from a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital recognizes employees

Honorees Bonnie Halligan and Patricia Thibodeau

Bonnie Halligan, RN, of Seymour, and Patricia Thibodeau, Medical Records, of Bridgeport, will share honors as Griffin Hospital’s 2012-13 “Employees of the Year.”
Laura Howell, Radiation Oncology, of West Hartford, won “The Spirit of Planetree Award” and the staff of the Radiology/Cardiology, was named “Department of the Year” at the hospital’s annual Employee Recognition ceremony May 17 at the Crowne Plaza in Southbury.
Griffin Hospital CEO and President Patrick Charmel made the award announcements at the event, held each year during National Hospital Week, which recognizes employees and physicians for years of service and for outstanding performance.
In addition to the employee and department of the year winners, 68 employees and physicians were recognized for five-year milestones.

Topping the list of service award recipients were: Carol Dalton, of Ansonia, Gene DeLaurentis, of Wallingford, Harold Hebb, of Naugatuck, and Nira Silverman, MD, of North Haven, for 40 years of service; Donna Branch, of Ansonia, Donna Costanzo, of Seymour, Thomas Creed, of Oxford, Gerald G. Germano, MD, of Oxford, Alma Harmon, of Ansonia, Thomas Hughes, of Milford, and M. Koneswaran, MD, of Shelton, for 35 years of service; and John Cannici, of Southbury, Israel Dvoretzky, MD, of Hamden, James R. Pinke, MD, of Shelton, Rory Proctor, of Ansonia, Kenneth A. Ward, MD, of Woodbridge, and Geraldine Robinson, of Derby, for 30 years of service.

The hospital's Employee of the Year selections come from its monthly ITIP (I Take It Personally) program, in which employees are nominated by fellow employees for the honor.
Each month, four employees are selected on the basis of attitude, behavior, accountability and personal appearance, one in each of four categories: Ancillary, Nursing, Service and Support.
Of these, four are selected as finalists for the honor of “Employee of the Year.” In addition to Halligan and Thibodeau, Howell and Ed Valente, RN, of Naugatuck, were finalists.

Four hospital departments also are honored annually as “Department of the Quarter,” with one selected as “Department of the Year.”
In addition to Radiation/Cardiology, Department of the Quarter winners were the Emergency Department, Information Services/Meaningful Use Steering Team, and Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Valente wins Nurse of the Year

In addition to these awards, several people were honored at the May 9 Griffin Hospital Nurses Day celebration, including: The Outstanding Nurse of the Year, given to Valente; The Physician of the Year, given to Joseph Gnanaraj, MD, of Oxford; The Marie Santini Perioperatice Nursing Excellence Award, given to Sue Bouton, RN, of Oxford; The Richard Stivala, MD, Obstetric Nursing Excellence Award, given to Jen Liao-Liu, RN, of Watertown; The Mary Schumacher Leadership Award, given to Susan Gucwa-Bucasas, RN, of Shelton; The Mary Nelligan Award for Continuing Education, given to Stephanie Sewersky, RN, of Bridgeport; The Donald Torok Memorial Scholarship, given to Lisa Vitale, MST; of East Haven; and two Shirley Yale Scholarships, given to Tricia DeGennaro, RN, and Yang Dhondop, LPN, both of Naugatuck.

The above was taken from a press release from Griffin Hospital in Derby.

Connecticut leaders tackle flooding issues at Housatonic River

 

First Selectmen and Mayors from towns along the Housatonic River including left to right: Bill Davidson of Brookfield, George Temple of Oxford, Kurt Miller of Seymour, Ed Edelson of Southbury and Pat Murphy of New Milford met in the Oxford Town Hall meeting room to discuss flooding issues along the river with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Mara Lavitt/Register

By Phyllis Swebilius
Register Staff
OXFORD — A brainstorming session Monday on Housatonic River flooding with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and representatives of eight municipalities brought new ideas for the future.
Municipal leaders from old Milford to New Milford and beyond presented their concerns on what Blumenthal defined as a regional problem.
Even those communities not directly on the river are affected by flooding, when power is lost or roads are closed, one official said.
“We’re all affected by flooding or by drought,” Blumenthal said after the meeting. “We need to work on a bipartisan basis.”

Read the full story here.

All-American Valley General Store opens in Seymour, sells only locally made items

Kimberly Dulka sits in her new store, the All-American Valley General Store, at 16 Bank St., Suite 140  in Seymour. Patricia Villers/Register


By Patricia Villers
Register Staff
SEYMOUR — Selling only locally-made products is the idea behind the old-fashioned style All-American Valley General Store at 16 Bank St., Suite 140.
Resident Kimberly Dulka said the shop she opened a few weeks ago in the downtown antiques district will feature “everything Connecticut.”
Keeping it local supports small businesses and strengthens the community, she said. “We bring the best of Connecticut right here to Seymour.”

Read the full story here.

Music unlocks hearts for Derby pastor (video)

By Patricia Villers
Register Staff
DERBY — The message is in the music in the ministry of the Rev. Larry Crasilli, pastor of Second Congregational Church.
Crasilli, of Southbury, is a Derby native. He has been singing since he was 17. He lived in Nashville for five years before returning to Connecticut.
In November 2010, Crasilli, 59, was ordained at Grace Faith Assembly in Danbury. He previously was a deacon and music director there, he said.
He and his wife, Doreen, 51, travel statewide, and into New York and Massachusetts, to bring their music to senior centers, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

Read the full story here.