Wayne Memorial Hospital honors veteran employees

Honesdale n “We used to deliver babies all the way down the hall in another room. Now we have birthing ‘suites,’ said Joyce Bannon, RN at Wayne Memorial Hospital’s New Beginnings unit. Bannon was reminiscing during the hospital’s 33rd annual Service Awards program honoring the dedication of long-time employees. Bannon has been at Wayne Memorial for 30 years. “Today, moms labor and deliver in the same room—an LDRP or Labor-Delivery-Recovery and Post-Partum suite,” Bannon continued. “We don’t have to wheel the mother anywhere, it’s much more pleasant for families!” The Awards ceremony traditionally honors employees at five year increments of service—Ruth Longmore, RN, topped this year’s list with 35 years, followed by Bannon and colleague Susan Marquard, RN. “I came to Wayne Memorial in 1977,” said Marquard, “mostly to get my kids out of the city. I’m from the Bronx. And Honesdale has been a wonderful place, a great place to raise our children.” “So much has changed in health care—and the world— since I arrived,” chimed in Maggie Fontana, who has worked in the WMH Laboratory for 25 years. A power-point presentation at the ceremony backed her up: the average gas price in 1982 was $1.30 a gallon. Today it’s $2.95 for the same amount. “We used to deliver all our (lab) results to the ER, all the floors by ourselves. Today we have a third shift, but back then we had only two shifts and no phlebotomists!” Many of those honored had a lot to say about their patients over the years. “The patients are appreciative of our care and that’s really nice,” said Mary Carlile, RN (20 years) and Cindy Kovaleski, Nursing Assistant (5 years). “I get hugged and kissed a lot in my job!” laughed Joseph Spinosa, RN/Physical Therapist (5 years). Spinosa switched from his nursing job to physical therapist in the new Good Shepherd-Wayne Memorial Inpatient Rehabilitation unit. “I was very happy that Wayne Memorial opened an inpatient rehab unit. It’s the best place for someone like myself—the variety and the progress I see. Patients are just so happy when they leave—they kiss me!” “I love my job,” said a very enthusiastic Lori Wood, Dental Hygienist for five years with the Together for Health Dental clinic. The clinic serves young people up to age 21, including those whose only method of payment may be government-funded medical assistance. “Everywhere I go people say ‘you guys are great!’” David Hoff, Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Memorial Health System, and Helge Mortensen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, applauded all 80 employees honored at the ceremony for their years of dedicated service. “When patients write to us, they praise our people not our buildings,” said Hoff. “You, our employees, are the heart of Wayne Memorial Hospital.” Mortensen thanked the employees and noted that many of them worked hard inside the hospital and outside in the community. “Mary Burgio, Social Services Manager (10 years) has led an annual food drive among employees to help out area food pantries,” noted Mortensen, “Kim Erickson (Behavioral Health, five years) co-organized the recent Tour of Honor for World War Two vets and she chairs the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. You (our employees) are all people who truly care about others.” Each employee received a gift of their choice from WMH, such as a watch or a silver necklace with a WMH logo clasp or a multiple-head specialized screwdriver.