From January 1 to April 7, 2017 Rumford Hospital hosted a staff weight loss challenge. Winner Bonnie Pelletier, CNA (pictured right) lost 30 pounds and runner-up Laura Allain (pictured left) lost 22 pounds through the challenge. This year’s challenge featured 40 participants ranging from ages 19 to 86. Pelletier and Allain received prizes donated by local businesses and individuals.
Rumford Hospital
Rumford Hospital Seeks Scholarship Applications
The Peg Blouin Nursing Scholarship was established in 2009 upon Ms. Blouin’s retirement from Rumford Hospital, after 42 years as a registered nurse. Having been a recipient of the Auxiliary Scholarship, which enabled her to earn her nursing degree, Ms. Blouin expressed a wish to give back to the community.
A $1,250 scholarship will be awarded to a new nursing student that has been accepted into either an Associate or Bachelor program. Applications are encouraged from new nursing students at any stage of life. The recipient will be chosen by the Rumford Hospital Nursing Leadership committee.
Interested individuals should contact the Rumford Hospital Nursing Secretary at 369-1232 for applications, scholarship guidelines and additional information, or download application here . Applications must be received no later than May 17, 2017 for consideration.
Maine Commission for Community Service Recognizes River Valley Youths with the Governor’s Awards for Service & Volunteerism
Maine youth are volunteering at a rate that has earned the state recognition in national reports. It’s time to shine a spotlight on the young people who are serving and changing their communities. This recognition program shows appreciation and encouragement to volunteers 18 years of age and younger. The week of April 24th is National Volunteer Week.
Three local young people have met the criteria to receive the Governor’s Award for Service & Volunteerism by volunteering time at Rumford Hospital through the Junior Volunteer program over the past year and have been nominated for the award by Susan Hedrich, System Director of Volunteer Services for Central Maine Healthcare which is the parent company of Rumford Hospital, Bridgton Hospital, and Central Maine Medical Center. Students must complete at least 50 hours of volunteer service and be under 18 years of age. The students each received a certificate of recognition from the Governor’s Office, a President’s Volunteer Service medallion, and tickets to a Maine Red Claws game held in honor of youth volunteer recognition.
The three local students are:
Colby Volkernick of Rumford (pictured) with 294 hours of service to Rumford Hospital
Alex Ferland of Canton with 51 hours of service to Rumford Hospital
Perry Morton of Andover with 69 hours of service to Rumford Hospital
Rumford Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Receives Recertification
Rumford Hospital is proud to announce the recertification of its Cardiac Rehabilitation Program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).
AACVPR certified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation, because they offer the most advanced practices available and they are committed to improving the quality of life for cardiac patients by enhancing standards of care. To achieve certification, the Rumford Hospital rehab team participates in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices, and adherence to standards and guidelines. This certification is good for three years.
At Rumford Hospital, the cardiac rehab program is an individualized program of monitored exercise and education to help patients recover from a heart attack or heart surgery. The team consists of Registered Nurses, Cardiologist, Pharmacist, Dietitian, Diabetes Educator, and Respiratory Therapist. The Registered Nurses coordinating the rehab program are required to show their ongoing participation of attendance at current cardiac education as part of the recertification process.
Patients who attend the program attend three times per week. Each session includes exercise with additional education incorporated into two sessions each week. The program is structured specifically for each individual’s needs and goals with ongoing communication between the Cardiac Rehab team and their physician. The patients learn how to increase their physical activity safely and make lifestyle changes that may decrease future risk of cardiac incidents. With accurate diagnosis, therapy, emotional support, reconditioning and education, the Cardiac Rehab program helps patients achieve the highest possible functional capacity allowed by their physical limitations and life situations.
The Cardiac Rehab program at Rumford Hospital receives numerous compliments from patients and families thanking them for the work they do and the successes patients accomplish. Staff from Cardiac Rehab are often quoted as saying, “We love what we do. We have the best job in the hospital.”
A key to the success of the program is individualizing the exercise to each patient, and celebrating even the smallest accomplishment for each patient as they progress.
Central Maine Healthcare Recognizes Certified Nurses Day, March 19th
“Certified Nurses Day honors nurses worldwide who contribute to better patient outcomes through national board certification in their specialty. A registered nurse (RN) license allows nurses to practice. Certification affirms advanced knowledge, skill, and practice to meet the challenges of modern nursing.” ANCC, American Nurses Credentialing Center
Central Maine Healthcare wants to thank the 163 Nurses who have sought this designation and for your professionalism and leadership in achieving and maintaining national board certification in your nursing specialty.
Sara Kapinos, RN, Named DAISY Award Honoree
The DAISY Award nurse honorees at Bridgton Hospital personify remarkable patient experience. DAISY Award nurses consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care, and they are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community.
Bridgton Hospital presented its most recent DAISY Award to Sara Kapinos, RN. In the words of her peers, “No matter what type of day Sara is experiencing, she always has a smile. We are privileged to have this DAISY as an important team member of perioperative services.”
Kapinos always goes the extra mile for her patients. Her nomination story included many hours dedicated to phone calls to a patient’s provider, Hospitalists, and Gastroenterologist and coordinating an admission to ensure that the patient would be able to have a procedure.
Her flexibility to float to between units and critical thinking skills make Kapinos a great team player and positive asset to Bridgton Hospital.
As a DAISY Award Honoree, Kapinos was presented a bouquet of daisies, a DAISY certificate, a DAISY Award pin, a cross-stitch bookmark handmade by a hospital employee, and a hand-carved stone sculpture entitled A Healer’s Touch. Additionally, everyone in attendance celebrated with specially made cinnamon rolls. The significance of the cinnamon rolls is that J. Patrick Barnes especially enjoyed sharing cinnamon rolls with his nurses, and his family felt this should be a part of the ceremonies across the country.
The DAISY Foundation was established in Glen Ellen, California, in 1999 by the family of Barnes who died of complications of the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) at the age of 33. (DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system.) During Mr. Barnes’ eight-week hospitalization, his family was awestruck by the care and compassion his nurses at his hospital provided not only to him but to everyone in his family. So one of the goals they set in creating a Foundation in his memory was to recognize extraordinary nurses everywhere who make an enormous difference in the lives of so many people by the superhuman work they do every day.