Dartmouth-Hitchcock CEO and President Among ‘Outstanding Americans’
Lebanon — Dr. James Weinstein, chief executive officer and president of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock health system, has received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations.
This year’s recipients, 90 in all, include talk show host Meredith Vieira; New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera; U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas; 12 members of the U.S. military; and Washington, D.C., police chief Cathy L. Lanier.
“Each of these honorees represents traits that I admire in great Americans: the vision of a better world for all, the tenacity to overcome challenges, and the leadership and imagination to blaze their own trail,” Nasser J. Kazeminy, the coalition’s chairman, said in a recent news release. “And most importantly, they have the humility and self-reflection to appreciate the amazing opportunities that America has given them.”
The $1.6 billion Dartmouth-Hitchcock health system includes New Hampshire’s academic medical center and a network of clinics across the Twin States, serving a patient population of 1.5 million.
Before becoming CEO, Weinstein was president of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic and director of The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. The dual positions “allowed him to build critical linkages between the groundbreaking health services research of (The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice) and the clinical care at Dartmouth-Hitchcock,” the coalition said.
Weinstein is a founding member and chairman of the national High Value Healthcare Collaborative, a partnership of 17 health care delivery systems and The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, collectively serving more than 70 million people across the United States, who have taken on the challenge of improving the quality of care while lowering costs, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations said.
He is also the principal investigator of a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation grant that brings some 40 million records to Dartmouth quarterly for analysis and reporting, “representing the most extensive broad-based collaborative in the United States.”
Alice Peck Day Nurse Named Clinical Informatics Specialist
Lebanon — Renee Martin, a registered nurse, has been named clinical informatics specialist at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital.
Clinical informatics is a multidisciplinary field that uses health information technology to improve health care.
Martin joined APD in 2011 as clinical manager for the Robert A. Mesropian Center for Community Care, the hospital’s onsite primary care facility. She has been instrumental in incorporating the electronic medical record system into the center’s clinical workflow, the hospital said in a recent news release.
Before joining APD, Martin served as a registered nurse and nurse manager in the inpatient hematology and oncology unit at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. She previously worked in Amarillo, Texas, as head nurse at Northwest Texas Hospital and Amarillo Cancer Center.
The appointment is “a great opportunity” for both APD and Martin, who will continue to support informatics efforts in the center while also applying her experience to the needs of APD’s other clinics, said Dr. Sheila Feyrer, the hospital’s medical director of informatics. “We are fortunate to have an individual’s experience and interests come together like they have with Renee.”
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Receives Distinctions for Patient Care
Lebanon — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center recently received distinctions from three national organizations.
The Joint Commission has awarded DHMC its Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation, reporting that DHMC’s culture is “strong and thriving” by demonstrating continuous compliance with performance standards. The Joint Commission, which has accredited more than 4,000 hospitals for more than 60 years, issues its accreditation for three years. Compliance with accreditation standards is essential for continuing Medicare certification and reimbursement, DHMC said in a recent news release.
The hospital is also among the top in the country for its quality of patient care and satisfaction, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It achieved four stars out of a possible five in overall patient satisfaction ratings on Hospital Compare, a public information website that helps consumers choose a hospital and understand the quality of care it delivers.
DHMC also has been recertified by the American College of Surgeons as a Level I trauma center through Jan. 30, 2018, and Level II pediatric trauma center through Jan. 30, 2016. The ACS approved the DHMC trauma center for commitment, readiness, resources, policies, patient care and performance improvement.
HCRS Clients Take Part In Disability Awareness Day
Springfield, Vt. — Two Health Care and Rehabilitation Services clients recently participated in Disability Awareness Day events held March 18 at the Vermont Statehouse.
John Coan and Zachary Connors, members of the HCRS Developmental Services’ advocacy group, met with Gov. Peter Shumlin and heard him discuss “the importance of their supports and the advocacy work they do in our communities,” HCRS said in a recent news release.
The event, hosted by the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, drew people from across the state to celebrate and advocate for their rights.
It featured workshops, a keynote speech by Andrew Imparato, executive director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, and panel presentations on the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Coan and Connors enjoyed meeting new peers and speaking with various legislators at the event, HCRS said.
“It was really cool getting to meet our governor and to speak with the people who live in the same area that we do,” Connors said.
‘Home Alone and Safe’ Course Set at Gifford
Randolph — Home Alone and Safe, a course for children ages 8-11, is set for Aug. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Gifford’s Family Center.
Created by chapters of the American Red Cross, the course is designed for children who spend time without adult supervision. It helps kids understand rules and responsibilities and anticipate and resolve potential problems, organizers said.
Topics include Internet safety, family communications, telephone safety, sibling care, personal safety, gun safety and basic emergency care.
Children take home a workbook and handouts and earn a certificate upon completion.
Jude Powers, a wellness educator at Gifford, will lead the class. The cost is $15. To register, call Powers at 802-649-1841.
Nurse is Employee of the Month At Mt. Ascutney Hospital
Windsor — Barbette Chase, a registered nurse, was named employee of the month for March at Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center.
She was recognized for her nursing excellence, patient advocacy and kind, gentle approach.
An employee of the hospital since 2005, Chase works on the Rehabilitation Unit, supporting patients as they recover from injuries and illnesses. She’s adept at patient education, a key component in helping patients understand and be actively involved in their own recovery process, the hospital said in a recent news release. She is able to identify patients’ learning abilities and tailor rehabilitation plans accordingly, and her initiative and skillfulness make her a mentor to other staff members.
Chase is known for her compassion and kindness, said Sharon Laskevich, nurse manager on the unit. “Her dependability and trustworthiness makes her an asset to our patients and our staff.”
New London Hospital Will Host Reunion Art Exhibit
New London — An art show featuring more than 30 former New London Hospital exhibitors will be on display at the hospital until Aug. 27.
The hospital’s art program is overseen by the Friends of New London Hospital Art Committee, a volunteer group of local artists and community members.
It draws from the extensive art community in the region, inviting artists to exhibit and sell their work or submit pieces for permanent display, the hospital said in a recent news release.
— Compiled by Aimee Caruso
