Columbia Memorial Hospital and its affiliate skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, Kaaterskill Care in Catskill, have recognized four staff members for outstanding professionalism and patient advocacy.
Cited are Christina Newkirk, Dawn Taggard, RN, and Liza Walshe, RN, from Columbia Memorial, and Jennifer Hernandez from Kaaterskill Care.
Liza Walshe, RN was recipient of the hospital's Daisy Award for the first quarter of 2010, given to the nurse selected by the recruitment and retention committed who shows the highest degree of compassion, empathy, dependability, caring, dedication, and patient advocacy.
Columbia Memorial's May 2010, Employee of the Month is Christina Newkirk. Christina started at Columbia Memorial at 17 years of age, working in food service. Upon graduation from high school, she became a full-time employee and has held various positions. She is now an employee of the Medical Records Department and was cited by supervisor Claudia Overacker for her outstanding professionalism.
Dawn Taggard, RN was selected as the hospital's Employee of the Month for June 2010.
According to Director of Inpatient Services, Sara Friess, RN, Taggard "was nominated by her peers for this prestigious award because she been an integral part of the Columbia Memorial Hospital family since 1984 and has demonstrated true professionalism repeatedly. She always takes the extra moments needed with her patients to make sure they are comfortable. She has been an ICU nurse for several years and loves to teach incoming nurse."
Jennifer Hernandez, Diet Technician, has been named the Kaaterskill Care Employee of the Quarter. According to Todd Zbytniewski, Vice President of Operations at Kaaterskill Care, Hernandez has been an employee for 11 years.
"She has a tremendous work ethic and is always seeking ways to improve the quality of care," he said.
Hernandez is attending Columbia-Greene Community College, with plans to pursue a nursing degree.
