Pennsylvania Health Care Association Announces 2016 Hero Award Winners

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Seven of the commonwealth’s best health care professionals were honored as 2016 Hero Award winners for their extraordinary contributions toward the care of the state’s seniors by the Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) during a ceremony on Sept. 27.

The winners work in long-term and post-acute care centers throughout the state — including skilled nursing facilities (SNF), personal care homes and assisted living residences. More than 100 nominations were submitted by facility administrators and staff, and winners were selected the PHCA awards committee after a review of each nominee was conducted.

“Every day in Pennsylvania, more than 81,000 frail, elderly and disabled residents who need around-the-clock support for clinically complex medical conditions receive high quality, compassionate care from many of the finest health care professionals in the nation,” said PHCA CEO W. Russell McDade. “Our seven Hero Award winners represent some of the very best in long-term care and were honored to recognize them for the outstanding services they provide to residents and their families.”

The 2016 Hero Awards ceremony took place during PHCA’s annual convention, held at the Lancaster County Convention Center. In addition to honoring the award winners for their outstanding contributions to the wellbeing of residents, PHCA made a short video about each winner featuring their colleagues and residents and is making those videos available to the public via YouTube.

This year’s winners are:

• Dennis Yeager, the director of environmental services with Juniper Village Senior Living at Brookline in State College, Pa., has been honored as the Assisted Living/Personal Care Most Valuable Employee of the Year. You can view Dennis’ video at https://youtu.be/RZbNKUYWkFQ.
• Carol Johnson, a housekeeper with Willowcrest at the Albert Einstein Medical Center, in Philadelphia, PA., has been honored as the SNF Most Valuable Employee of the Year. You can view Carol’s video at https://youtu.be/mzVHiYCM0fM.
• Jean Chambers, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at St. Francis Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare, in Darby, Pa., has been honored as the SNF CNA of the Year. You can view Jean’s video at https://youtu.be/0Ca-hqv528A.
• Katiana Noisette, a care manager at Sunrise of Blue Bell, in Blue Bell, Pa., has been honored as the Assisted Living/Personal Care Personal Care Aide of the Year. You can view Katiana’s video at https://youtu.be/ML9YjYG5aF4.
• Teresa Krichko, a registered nurse supervisor at Edinboro Manor, in Edinboro, Pa., has been honored as the Nurse of the Year. You can view Teresa’s video at https://youtu.be/IyU9x6vh5K4.
• Dayna Colaizzi, a nursing home administrator at ManorCare Bethel Park, in Bethel Park, Pa., has been honored as the SNF Administrator of the Year. You can view Dayna’s video at https://youtu.be/cq2yak_0ZTQ.
• Gary Renwick, the executive director at Newhaven Court at Clearview, in Butler, Pa., has been honored as the Assisted Living/Personal Care Executive Director of the Year. You can view Gary’s video at https://youtu.be/9TTLcMJpAnI.