Access to The Frances Warde Towers Entrance and Lobby at Saint Mary Home will be temporarily curtailed this summer as the project to enhance accessibility and security gets under way. As of July 15, colleagues, volunteers and visitors to Saint Mary Home will be re-routed to an alternate entrance.
"We apologize for any inconvenience the construction may cause," said Mercy Community Health President and CEO Bill Fiocchetta, "but in the end, those who come to Saint Mary Home will be most pleased by the results of the work we'll be doing over the course of the next several weeks. We have an expert team creating a main entrance and lobby that will be so much easier for guests and emergency personnel to navigate, and we'll be upgrading many of our personal safety systems. Our goal is to continue to provide a secure, accessible gateway to the Mercy Community for all."
The Gateway Project is made possible by the Catholic Health East Heritage Fund, New Alliance Bank and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Completion of the remodeled Frances Warde Towers Entrance and Lobby is scheduled for September 2010.
06/09/10 - The Mercy Community Featured on WFSB TV's Better Connecticut
The Mercy Community was featured on today's edition of WFSB Television's Better Connecticut program. Click here to view the special segment highlighting our rehabilitative therapy program!
03/29/10 - The Circle of Mercy Golf Outing Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary on June 21
Mercy Community Health's annual charity tournament, The Circle of Mercy Golf Outing, will tee off for the tenth time on Monday, June 21, 2010 at the Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford. Registration is now open for golfers and sponsors.
Randy Edsall, Head Coach for the University of Connecticut's Football Team, will return for his second consecutive year as Honorary Chairman. Coach Edsall will play the course and make remarks at that afternoon's luncheon and awards program. The event will once again include the popular JetBlue Challenge, which makes golfers and luncheon guests eligible for extraordinary prizes including travel packages. An online auction to benefit the Mercy Community's people and programs will be launched here on June 1.
The Tenth Anniversary Circle of Mercy Golf Outing will begin with a breakfast buffet at 7:00 a.m. on June 21. The shotgun start is at 8:00 a.m. A special anniversary reception begins in the Hartford Golf Club's Main Dining Room at 12:30 p.m.
The cost for individual golfer registration is $275. For more information about participation fees or sponsorship rates, please contact Christine M. Looby, Mercy Community Health's director of community relations, at 860.570.8305 or
clooby@mchct.org
01/22/10 - Saint Mary Home's Director of Nursing/Clinical Services Elected to National Board
Aysha Kuhlor, RN, BA CDONA/LTC, Director of Nursing/Clinical Services at Mercy Community Health’s
Saint
Mary
Home, has been elected Recording Secretary for the National Association for Directors of Nursing Administrators (NADONA.) Aysha has served in Long Term Care for more than 10 years in various leadership roles. She is President of the Connecticut Chapter of NADONA, and serves on the national Education and Legislative committees and various advisory boards at the State and National level.
Aysha was honored with the Quality of Excellence Award from Catholic Health East for her work as Director of Nurses at
Saint
Mary
Home. She was recently nominated for the Distinguished Service Award with the CT Association of Not for Profit for Aging (CANFPA) and received its 2009 Nurse Administrator of the year award for the Eastern Region.
10/27/09 - Mercy Community Health Opens Storefront in Cyberspace
Mercy Community Health today announced the launch of its online health and wellness storefront. It developed
www.MCHMarketplace.com in collaboration with Paquin Healthcare Company in
Orlando
,
Florida
.
“We are very proud to extend our mission of health and wellness beyond the hundreds of residents and clients we now serve on a daily basis,” said William J. Fiocchetta, President and CEO of Mercy Community Health. “By complementing the care we provide through
Saint
Mary
Home
, The McAuley, and Mercy Community HomeCare with an innovative online presence like the MCH Marketplace, we can reach more people with important health-related information and resources.”
Paquin Healthcare partners with hospitals and healthcare systems nationwide to consult and implement retail healthcare strategies. As part of their services, Paquin Healthcare offers a custom-branded online storefront featuring thousands of health and wellness products. “The E-commerce site presents Mercy Community Health with the opportunity to send patients directly to a source for recommended healthcare products,” says Tony Paquin, Founder and CEO of Paquin Healthcare. “No matter the distance between the patient and their healthcare provider, the online storefront allows them immediate access to the products they are seeking.”
The Mercy Community Health e-commerce storefront may be accessed on the website home page by clicking on the orange button labeled "MCH Marketplace" or via www.MCHmarketplace.com . Visitors may register to receive a newsletter with health and wellness information customized to their needs and interests and shop for items ranging from scrubs to therapeutic products to memory care tools and more.
09/09/09 - Saint Mary Home Director of Nursing Aysha Kuhlor Named Nursing Administrator of the Year
At its annual conference, the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care (NADONA) named Aysha Kuhlor,
director of nursing/resident care for Saint Mary Home, Eastern Regional Nurse Administrator of 2009. Aysha was surprised to learn at the conference, held in Phoenix, AZ this summer, that she had been nominated for the honor by three colleagues.
According to one nominator: "(Aysha's) dedication to the nursing department is an inspiring example to the entire facility. There she realizes the team concept in all who ultimately report to her. The lines of communication are open and readily available. She leads by encouraging others to do their best for the good of those residents/patients whom we serve by caring for them with contagious enthusiasm. She has the ability to instinctively discern areas where the staff might require some more education and then goes about having the identified areas appropriately in-serviced, or she will develop a teaching plan to complete the objective. She is sincerely passionate about the quality of nursing care..."
Aysha is President of the Connecticut Chapter of NADONA/LTC, a recipient of the "Quality Award" from Catholic Health East, and a nominee for a Distinguished Service Award from the Connecticut Association of Not-for-Profit Providers for the Aging.
09/02/09 - Caregivers Invited to September Support Group Meetings at Saint Mary Home
Those who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementia are encouraged to attend one of two September 10 meetings aimed at providing them with both a safe place to listen and be heard and valuable resources. At 2:00 p.m. in Saint Mary Home's Callaghan Crossing Family Room, the Caregiver Support Group for Spouses will gather for conversation and refreshments. At 4:30 p.m., the Caregiver Support Group for Families will meet in the Center 1 Dining Room on the first floor of Saint Mary Home. Eileen Cleary, director for dementia education and programming, will initiate a discussion about "When the Past Becomes the Present: Time Travelers and Dementia." New and returning members are welcome to either support group.
To register in advance for a support group meeting, simply contact Eileen Cleary at 860.570.8335 or
ecleary.smh@mchct.org . Walk ins are also welcome.
09/01/09 - Mercy Community Health Proud to Sponsor West Hartford's 18th Annual Labor Day Weekend Concert
Mercy Community Health is one of several local sponsors of the Labor Day Weekend Concert that will be presented by West Hartford's Department of Human & Leisure Services and Music Performance Fund. This free public event will be held at 5:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Town Hall Commons, 50 South Main Street in West Hartford. The rain location will be the Town Hall Auditorium at the same address.
The Hartford Pops Band, led by conductor Gary L. Partridge, will perform a number of patriotic and Broadway numbers sure to please audience members of all ages. Those attending are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for their comfort.
08/18/09 - Mercy Community Health to Display Powerful "Quilt to Remember" Panel in Tribute to Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease
During the month of September, Mercy Community Health will display an emotional and creative quilt panel crafted by individuals and organizations from across America in tribute to people with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia or their caregivers. The arts exhibit represents a small portion of the more than 130 massive panels that make up the traveling Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) Quilt to Remember.
The AFA Quilt to Remember is the nation’s first large-scale quilt that remembers either those who had or have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, their caregivers or healthcare professionals. Its goals include educating the public about the disease and highlighting the enormity and reality of the brain disorder in an unprecedented way.
Mercy Community Health will display the panel to the public at
Saint
Mary
Home (
2021 Albany Avenue,
West Hartford,
CT) in its Archbishop John F. Whealon Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy on the following dates:
- Saturday, September 19 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.)
- Monday, September 28 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.*
*2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.; “Reflection on the Alzheimer Foundation of
America’s Quilt to Remember,” presented by Sister Peggy Luby.
For more information, call 860.570.8305.
“Mercy Community Health is honored to be one of hundreds of locations across
America exhibiting this powerful tribute to those living with the challenges of Alzheimer’s Disease,” said Christine M. Looby, director of community relations. AFA has been loaning a limited number of the quilt panels—each of which measures four feet or eight feet square—to its member organizations in an effort to share the heartfelt collection with local communities nationwide.
“As our members help the quilt make its way around the country, this powerful tribute will touch the heart of many more Americans and continue to pass on a message of hope to caregivers while celebrating the lives of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and chief executive officer.
The AFA Quilt to Remember is an ongoing initiative, continuing to accept quilt panels from individuals and organizations, and taking the collection on tour across the country.
Currently, it is estimated that as many as 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and the incidence is rising in line with the aging population. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the
United States.
For more information about the AFA Quilt to Remember, visit www.alzquilt.org or call 866-AFA-8484.
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in New York and made up of more than 1,200 member organizations that provide hands-on programs to meet the educational, emotional, practical and social needs of families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses. AFA’s services include a toll-free hot line, counseling, educational materials, a free caregiver magazine, and professional training. For information, call (toll-free) 866-AFA-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org .
07/16/09 - Medical Director Dr. Frederick Rowland Publishes Study on Nursing Home Quality in Journal of American Medical Directors Association
Frederick N. Rowland, Ph.D., M.D., C.M.D., Medical Director at Mercy Community Health and Chief of the Section of Geriatric Medicine at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, has co-authored a new study commissioned by the American Medical Directors Certification Program (AMDCP). The study finds that having an AMDA-certified medical director (CMD) contributes positively to a nursing home’s quality of care. Analysis of data showed that quality scores represented a 15% improvement in quality for facilities with certified medical directors. The study, which appears in the July issue of the Journal of American Medical Directors Association, is available at www.jamda.com/article/PIIS1525861009001984/fulltext .
According to Dr. Rowland: “We long have thought that a CMD makes a difference in terms of quality; but until now, this just has been an assumption. We now know that it is a measurable truth. There is value for facilities that have CMDs as medical directors.”
The AMDCP commissioned independent researchers at the Cowles Research Group to assist in the design of a study that would look at how quality of care is defined within facilities and the effect of a CMD on that quality. After receiving a list of 547 facilities with CMD-designated medical directors, Cowles Group compared standardized quality scores of these facilities with the rest of the long-term care facilities in the country.
Dr. Rowland suggests that this study provides evidence for states considering a mandate for CMD education or other similar training for nursing facility medical directors. “
Maryland already has such a requirement,” he explains, “and it has been shown to make a difference. Administrator and medical director responders said that there was more teamwork and that the medical director worked more with others on influencing care.”
AMDA established the CMD program in 1991 after three years of research and development using surveys, consensus conferences and experts to define the core skills and knowledge necessary for effective medical direction. Since 1996, the program has been administered by the AMDCP. Since its inception, the program has bestowed more than 2500 physician medical directors with the AMDA CMD designation. Once awarded, certification lasts for six years, at which point recertification is required.
06/30/09 - Saint Mary Home Receives Culture Change Grant
The Connecticut Department of Public Health in collaboration with the Connecticut Culture Change Coalition has awarded Saint Mary Home a $2000 grant to support the purchase of materials to construct raised garden beds.
According to Sister Maureen M. Reardon, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Mission and Compliance Officer for Mercy Community Health, "This Culture Change Grant will effect a chain of community-changing events. Growth will begin with our residents, continue in the courtyard gardens, and extend to people in need throughout greater Hartford." Sister Maureen explained that Saint Mary Home colleagues will work alongside residents to plant and tend a vegetable garden that will bear produce that will be sent to a local shelter for use in preparing nutritious meals for the homeless. They will also cultivate flower beds for the express purpose of producing floral sprays that can be given to the residents of Saint Mary Home on special occasions in their lives.
"For many of our residents, the vegetable and flower gardens will give an experience that they either never experienced or have not experienced in many years. It will provide them with an opportunity for creative planning and design, intellectual stimulation and aesthetic appreciation," Sister Maureen said.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health made the Culture Change Grant opportunities available to Connecticut's nursing homes.
06/25/09 - The McAuley Reaccredited by CARF International
After a full review of The McAuley's Annual Conformance to Quality Report and Quality Improvement Plan, the international Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) has renewed its accreditation of The McAuley. In her acknowledgment, CARF's Administrator of Operations, Amanda Birch, said: "We recognize your ongoing efforts to provide quality services to persons you serve and look forward to a continuing relationship working with you to support your efforts."
05/22/09 - Online Auction Widens the Circle of Mercy
and bid on exciting getaways to Boston or New York City, or fulfill your dream of taking a hot air balloon ride!
The auction opens at 10:00 a.m. on May 29, 2009 and will close at 4:00 p.m. on June 11, 2009.
04/08/09 - Renowned Oboist Washington Barella to Perform at The McAuley April 23
Washington Barella, an internationally-acclaimed solo oboist, will perform at The McAuley's April 23 "Lunch and Learn" program at 3:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. Mr. Barella's performances have spanned three continents. In the U.S., he has been featured with the Philharmonia Virtuosi and the National Repertory Orchestra. In Brazil, he has been a soloist with the Rio de Janeiro Radio Orchestra and several premier symphonies. He has also performed with his own SWR Sinfonieorchestrer and the Bavarian Radio Symphony in Germany. His performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio and New York's WQXR.
Refreshments will be served. While there is no charge to attend the performance, seating is limited, so those interested must register for this event by calling 860.920.6319.
04/04/09 - UConn Football Coach Randy Edsall is Chairperson of the 2009 Circle of Mercy Golf Outing
Mercy Community Health has announced that Randy Edsall, Head Coach of the University of Connecticut Division I-A Football Team, will serve as Honorary Chairperson of the Circle of Mercy Golf Outing on Monday, June 15, 2009 at The Hartford Golf Club. This event is Mercy Community Health’s signature annual fundraiser, with proceeds going to benefit the residents and clients of Saint Mary Home, The McAuley, and Mercy Community HomeCare. A not-for-profit healthcare system, Mercy Community Health serves more than 700 people throughout greater Hartford every day through skilled nursing; adult day care; independent living; assisted living; physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation; Alzheimer’s/Dementia care; home health and other programs.
William J. Fiocchetta, President and CEO of Mercy Community Health, said: “We are very proud to have Coach Edsall as an ambassador. Throughout his ten years at the University of Connecticut, he has received many accolades – from being named Head Coach of the Year for 2007 in New England to his record as the third-winningest coach in the school’s history – and is recognized throughout the state for his dedication to charitable endeavors. When we shared with him Mercy Community Health’s mission to promote wellness, embrace diversity, and enhance quality of life, Coach Edsall said that he would be very happy to lend his support to our ninth annual golf outing.”
A native of Glen Rock, PA, Randy Edsall was a member of the Syracuse University football team that captured the Independence Bowl in 1979. His career includes coaching experience at Syracuse, Boston College and Georgia Tech. He became the 27th head coach at UConn in December 1998, guiding the Huskies to Big East Championship Play and establishing a reputation for his emphasis on developing athletes who demonstrate strength in the classroom as well as on the playing field.
“I welcome this opportunity to bring attention to Mercy Community Health’s work restoring health, providing comfort, and giving compassionate care to all people, especially the elderly poor. We will have a great day golfing and building awareness about Mercy Community Health’s full spectrum of services on June 15th,” Coach Edsall said.
For information about sponsorship opportunities or to register to play in the 2009 Circle of Mercy Golf Outing, contact Christine Looby, director of community relations for Mercy Community Health, at 860.570.8305 or
clooby@mchct.org .
03/19/09 - Saint Mary Home Cares for Family Caregivers in One Afternoon with Two Opportunities
If you are giving care to a loved one who is living with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia, Saint Mary Home welcomes you to take one hour to relax, learn invaluable coping skills, enjoy refreshments, and take strength from knowing you are not alone. On Thursday, April 9, a Spouses Support Group will meet at 2:00 p.m. in Saint Mary Home's Callaghan Crossing Family Room. Those who are seeing a significant other through the challenges associated with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia are invited to attend.
At 4:30 p.m. on April 9, a Family Caregiver Support Group will meet in the Center 1 Dining Room at Saint Mary Home. As with the Spouses Support Group, all are welcome, whether for the first time or as a returning member. To register in advance for either program, contact Director of Dementia Education and Programming Eileen Cleary, RN, CRRN, MA, NHA, at 860.570.8335 or
ecleary.smh@mchct.org . Because we understand the schedules of caregivers, we also encourage people to feel comfortable "walking in" on the afternoon of the event.
Saint Mary Home is located at 2021 Albany Avenue in West Hartford. Those who attend the program at 2:00 p.m. are encouraged to use the Callaghan Crossing Entrance to Saint Mary Home (enter from Steele Road) for convenient parking and access. Those attending the 4:30 p.m. Family Caregivers Session may use the main entrance off of Albany Avenue for access to the Center 1 Dining Room.
01/19/09 - Discussions Provide Insights into Talking with Children and Teens about Alzheimer's Disease
On Thursday, February 12, Mercy Community Health will offer those who face the challenge of caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia two opportunities for coping and learning.
At 2:00 p.m., the new Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Support Group for the Spouse will meet in the Callaghan Crossing Family Room on the first floor of
Saint
Mary
Home. They will discuss “Talking to Children and Teens about Alzheimer’s Disease.”
At 4:30 p.m., the Family Caregiver Support Group will broach the same topic in
Saint
Mary
Home’s Center 1 Dining Room. All family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia are welcome to attend this session, including spouses who cannot attend the earlier meeting that day.
To pre-register for either the Spouse Caregiver Support Group or the Family Caregiver Support Group meeting, call Eileen Cleary, director for dementia education and programming at
Saint
Mary
Home, at 860.570.8335.
Saint
Mary
Home is located at
2021 Albany Avenue in
West Hartford. All are welcome; there is no attendance fee. While registrations are preferred for purposes of having enough refreshments for all guests, walk-ins are welcome.
01/09/09 - Mercy Community Health Ranked Among Top 25% of Home Health Providers in the Country for Second Consecutive Year
Today, Mercy Community Health announced that it has been named to the 2008 HomeCare Elite: a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 25 percent of agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance. Mercy Community Health received this recognition in 2007, as well.
The 2008 HomeCare Elite also indicates those providers who are included in the Top 100 and Top 500 of providers nationwide. The data used for this analysis was compiled from publicly available information.
"The 2008 HomeCare Elite winners exemplify a commitment to providing their patients with optimum care while performing at the highest level," said Nancy Buller, Senior Director of Marketing Communications at OCS, Inc. "We congratulate Mercy Community Health on being one of the Top home care agencies in the country."
William J. Fiocchetta, President and CEO of Mercy Community Health, credits Mercy Community HomeCare's focus on quality care with the company's ability to rank as one of the HomeCare Elite for two consecutive years. He said: "Under Debra Rodgers' leadership, our colleagues at Mercy Community HomeCare have reached out to Greater Hartford to provide individuals with the same quality and degree of care in their homes as they would find here on our campus. For those people who choose to stay at home and received skilled nursing services, medical social work services, or homemaker and home health aide support services, Mercy Community HomeCare meets their needs with the highest professional standards as well as with respect and compassion."
"DecisionHealth would like to congratulate the top HomeCare Elite agencies that achieved excellent clinical and financial outcomes by providing quality care to their patients," adds Marci Heydt, Executive Editor of DecisionHealth's
Home Health Line. The 2008 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The 2008 HomeCare Elite is brought to the industry by OCS, Inc., the leading provider of healthcare informatics, and DecisionHealth, publisher of home care's most respected independent newsletter.
The entire list of the 2008 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS web site at
www.ocsys.com/HCE.
12/23/08 - Mercy Community Health Introduces Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Support Group Especially for Spouses
Now, an offshoot of the traditional Alzheimer's and Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group will be available at no cost to those who wish to attend. On the same days the free Family Caregiver group meets (the second Thursday of each month,) a group dedicated to the specific concerns of spouses giving care to partners with Alzheimer's and Dementia will meet earlier in the afternoon. The new Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Support Group for the Spouse will meet at 2:00 p.m. in the Callaghan Crossing Family Room at Saint Mary Home on the following dates:
February 12, 2009
March 12, 2009
April 9, 2009
May 14, 2009
June 11, 2009
July 9, 2009
August 13, 2009
September 10, 2009
October 8, 2009
November 12, 2009
December 10, 2009
The Family Caregiver Support Group meets on those same days at 4:30 p.m. in the Center 1 Dining Room at Saint Mary Home. People are welcome to join either group at any time and to return as their schedules permit. To pre-register for programs or to learn more, contact Eileen Cleary, RN, CRRN, MA, NHA, Director for Dementia Education and Programming, at 860.570.8335. Walk-ins are always welcome!
12/19/08 - Mercy Community Health to Observe National Homeless Persons Memorial Day December 21
Mercy Community Health will remember all those who are currently or who ever have been homeless in a special Liturgy Sunday, December 21. The Reverend Daniel Connaghan will celebrate a Mass in honor of National Homeless Persons Memorial Day at 10:00 a.m. in The Archbishop John F. Whealon Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy on the third floor of Saint Mary Home. All are welcome.
12/16/08 - Mercy Community Health, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Partners in Clinical Pastoral Education Program
Information about the Clinical Pastoral Education program developed by collaborative partners Mercy Community Health and Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center is now available online. To link from the Mercy Community Health Home Page, let your mouse hover over the Community Outreach tab, then click on "Clinical Pastoral Education."
11/26/08 - Mercy Community Health Receives Grant from NewAlliance Foundation
In keeping with its ongoing strategy of enhancing clinical technology, Mercy Community Health has secured $1000 in funding toward new patient care equipment through a grant from NewAlliance Foundation.
“We are grateful for NewAlliance Foundation’s investment in Mercy Community Health: specifically, in supporting our healthcare professionals in quickly and accurately managing and treating residents’ health conditions,” said William J. Fiocchetta, President and CEO of Mercy Community Health.
“Our grant to Mercy Community Health reflects our belief in its mission and our appreciation of the contribution it makes to our community,” Kim A. Healey, Executive Director of NewAlliance Foundation, wrote in a letter acknowledging the grant funding.
11/19/08 - Family Caregivers Will Discuss "How to Handle the Holidays"
Eileen Cleary, RN, CRRN, M.A., NHA, director for dementia education and programming at Saint Mary Home, has announced that the December meeting of the Alzheimer's & Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group will pertain to a very timely topic. At 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, the group will gather in the Saint Mary Home Center 1 Dining Room to discuss "How to Handle the Holidays." Returning and new members are welcome to join; call 860.570.8335 by December 9 to register in advance. Walk-ins will also be welcome.
Saint Mary Home is located at 2021 Albany Avenue in West Hartford on the Mercy Community Health campus. Parking is convenient and free of charge.
11/06/08 - Mercy Community Health to Welcome West Hartford Chamber of Commerce
Mercy Community Health is proud to welcome members and guests of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce to Saint Mary Home on Thursday, November 13. The Chamber's monthly Business After Hours program -- its premier networking opportunity -- will take place in the Saint Mary Home Auditorium, located at 2021 Albany Avenue in West Hartford from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
10/03/08 - November 13 Candle Lighting and Thanksgiving Event at Mercy Community Health
Participants in the monthly Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group meeting at Saint Mary Home and those who are interested in learning more about this network are invited to a Candle Lighting Ceremony and Thanksgiving Social on Thursday, November 13. The event will take place at
Saint
Mary
Home
,
2021 Albany Avenue
in
West Hartford
, in the Center 1 Dining Room at 4:30 p.m..
National Commemorative Candle Lighting is a nationwide event sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America to remember and honor Americans who have been or will be affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. Local organizations like Mercy Community Health hold inspirational ceremonies in their communities on November 13, uniting individuals from coast to coast as they light “candles of care.”
To pre-register, contact Eileen Cleary, director for dementia education and programming at
Saint
Mary
Home
, at 860.570.8335. While advance registration is preferred, walk-ins are welcome to attend.
09/29/08 - Family Caregiver Support Group to Discuss Music Therapy
The Alzheimer's & Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group will meet on Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. in Saint Mary Home's Center 1 Dining Room. Saint Mary Home's Director of Therapeutic Recreation and Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Michelle Russell, will present "Music Therapy: Communication beyond Words."
All are welcome to attend this free event, but pre-registrations are encouraged. Call Jackie Holcomb at 860.570.8223 by October 7 to pre-register.
The Alzheimer's & Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group Meetings are generally held on the second Thursday of each month at Saint Mary Home, 2021 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT.
09/10/08 - West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka Presents Mercy Community Health with Council Proclamation
At the Tuesday, September 9 meeting of
West Hartford
’s Town Council, Mayor Scott Slifka presented a proclamation to Mercy Community Health in honor of the healthcare organization’s 10
th anniversary and the 20
th anniversary of its component ministry, The McAuley.
Mayor Slifka delivered the citation to Joseph J. Noto, Chair of the Mercy Community Health Board of Trustees. “Be it proclaimed that on behalf of the Town Council and the residents of
West Hartford
, I, Mayor R. Scott Slifka, do hereby extend our best wishes and sincere appreciation to the faculty and families of Mercy Community Health and The McAuley on their tenth and twentieth anniversaries, respectively, as they restore health, provide comfort, and extend compassion and healing to all, especially the poor,” the Mayor said.
08/25/08 - Family Caregivers for Those Living with Alzheimer's and Related Dementia Invited to Sept. 11 Presentation
Eileen Cleary, director for dementia education and programming at Saint Mary Home, will present “Sharing Successes and Challenges” at a support group meeting for family caregivers of those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia. The meeting – free and open to the public – will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2008 in the Center 1 Dining Room at
Saint
Mary
Home,
2021 Albany Avenue in
West Hartford. Those who wish to attend are asked to call 860.570.8335 before September 9 to confirm their attendance; however, walk-ins are also welcome.
08/15/08 - Mercy Community Health Celebrates 10th Anniversary as The McAuley Enjoys 20th
Mercy Community Health will mark its tenth anniversary as the Catholic Health East regional healthcare community composed of Saint Mary Home, The McAuley, Mercy Community HomeCare and Mercyknoll with a week-long celebration from September 22 through 26. During that same week, the community at The McAuley will observe the 20
th anniversary of the day it opened its doors. “We have been proudly serving our mission of enhancing the quality of life for our residents and clients for 10 years as Mercy Community Health, and we wanted to share our celebration of that with the greater
Hartford
community,” said William J. Fiocchetta, President and CEO of Mercy Community Health. “Because the timing also coincides with the 20
th anniversary of The McAuley, we thought it provided a perfect reason to invite people to enjoy a host of cultural and spiritual activities on our beautiful campus nestled between Steele Road and Albany Avenue," he explained.
- On Monday, September 22, musicians will stroll the corridors of
Saint
Mary
Home
, performing for residents on the violin, flute, guitar and banjo. At 2:00 p.m. on that day, actress, author, director, and producer Robin Lane will present her one-woman play --Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: An American Original – in The McAuley Auditorium. That evening, residents of The McAuley and
Saint
Mary
Home
will travel to an HD Broadcast at Showcase Cinema Buckland Hills in
Manchester
of the Met’s Opening Night Gala.
- On Tuesday, September 23, The McAuley Chorus will stage a 3:00 p.m. anniversary performance at The McAuley. That evening at 7:00 p.m., The Celebration Jazz Band, featuring Reverend Gary Miller and friends from Asylum Hill Congregational Church, will perform at The McAuley.
- Wednesday, September 24 is Mercy Day: an annual celebration of the Sisters of Mercy who work in service to others around the globe. Locally, the Sisters founded
Saint
Mary
Home
1880 and continue to be active sponsors of Mercy Community Health and its component ministries. A special Mass for the Sisters will take place in the Saint Mary Home Auditorium at 10:00 a.m. At 2:00 p.m., the Jewish High Holy Days will be observed in The McAuley Auditorium.
- Mercy Community Health President and CEO William J. Fiocchetta will present “The History of The McAuley” in The McAuley Auditorium at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 25. This conversation is part of The McAuley’s monthly Lunch & Learn series; for more information, visit www.mchct.org . At 2:00 p.m. that day, the quartet “Irish to the Last Drop” will perform in
Saint
Mary
Home
’s Dining Room B. At 7:00 p.m., the Saint Mary Home Auditorium will host an Irish Step Dancing Performance by students from the Griffith Academy of Dance.
- On Friday, September 26, Sister Mary Frederick Tkacz and Sister Ann O’Neill will discuss “Life as a Sister of Mercy” at 2:00 p.m. in the Center 1 Dining Room. At 7:00 p.m., the Greater Hartford Opera Ensemble will perform in honor of the anniversaries at
Saint
Mary
Home
in the Auditorium.
The public is invited to attend any of these free events with the exception of the September 22 bus trip, which is a grant-funded excursion for the residents of Mercy Community Health. For more information, please contact Christine M. Looby, Mercy Community Health’s director of community relations, at 860.570.8305.
08/05/08 - Alzheimer's & Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group Meets August 14
At the Thursday, August 14 meeting of the Alzheimer's & Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group, Eileen Cleary, RN, CRRN, M.A., NHA, director for dementia education and programming at Saint Mary Home, will discuss "Communication, Conversation and Companionship." New individuals and family members are welcome to attend this free meeting, which will take place in the Saint Mary Home Center 1 Dining Room at 4:30 p.m.. While walk-ins are welcome, advance registration by August 12 is preferred.
To register or find out more information about the Alzheimer's & Dementia Family Caregiver Support Group, call Eileen Cleary at 860.570.8335.
07/29/08 - Mercy Community Health Celebrates Noah Webster's 250th "Birthday" August 4 - 8
To celebrate the 250th birthday of West Hartford native Noah Webster, the Noah Webster House and the President's College at the University of Hartford are conducting a six-month marathon reading of all of the approximately 63,000 headwords (the words that are defined) in the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, which was authored by Webster.
The dictionary marathon will continue at Mercy Community Health August 4-8, 2008 with a public reading of the 2935 headwords beginning with the letter M. The reading will take place as follows:
Monday, August 3 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Frances Warde Towers Dining Room, Saint Mary Home
Tuesday, August 5 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. The McAuley Auditorium
Wednesday, August 6 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Center 1 Dining Room, Saint Mary Home
Thursday, August 7 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Baggott St. Lounge, Saint Mary Home
Friday, August 8 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. The McAuley Auditorium
Various businesses and organizations throughout West Hartford have adopted letters of the alphabet and staged public readings. These events will conclude on October 16, which is the date of the 250th anniversary of Noah Webster's birth.
03/20/08 - MCH Trustee Receives Award from Catholic Health East
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Deacon Dennis R. Ferguson accepts his Excellence in Governance Award from Jacque Kinder, Catholic Health East Board Chair. |
The Board of Directors of Catholic Health East has awarded Deacon Dennis R. Ferguson, Esq., with its 2008 Excellence in Governance Award for his dedicated service on the Mercy Community Health Board of Trustees. Deacon Ferguson was nominated for this recognition by William J. Fiocchetta, President and CEO of Mercy Community Health in West Hartford. Catholic Health East is a multi-institutional Catholic health system, which is co-sponsored by 10 religious congregations, and Hope Ministries, a Public Juridic Person within Catholic Health East. Based in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, the System provides the means to ensure the continuation of the Catholic identity and operational strength of sponsors' health ministries (including Mercy Community Health,) which are located within 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida.
In December 2007, Deacon Ferguson completed his two-year term as chair of Mercy Community Health’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Fiocchetta characterized Deacon Ferguson’s leadership as passionate, generous, strategic, analytical, and consensus-building. “His stewardship, vision, collaborative nature, willingness to challenge his colleagues for the ultimate benefit of those we serve and his unwavering loyalty to our Mission and Core Values make Dennis very worthy of this recognition. We firmly believe that he exemplifies the very best of Mercy Community Health as well as the very best of Catholic Health East,” Mr. Fiocchetta said.
“These individuals exercise strategic thinking and visionary leadership, and have consistently shown dedication to their respective organizations and to the mission and values of Catholic Health East,” said Robert V. Stanek, president and CEO of Catholic Health East, of this year’s Excellence in Governance Award winners. “We express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of our Board members and especially our honorees for sharing their time and talents in serving our health care ministry.”
The Excellence in Governance Award carries with it a grant of $10,000 to be designated to a Mercy Community Health program or service that provides community benefit. Deacon Ferguson has designated that this gift be applied to the upcoming renovation project at the Saint Mary Home Chapel. Mercy Community Health will soon announce a fundraising campaign to refurbish the Chapel in order to increase its accessibility.
Owner of the Law Offices of Dennis R. Ferguson on Farmington Avenue and Deacon at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church on Farmington Avenue, Deacon Ferguson and his wife, Linda, also live in West Hartford.
03/07/08 - Mercy Community Health Receives $90,000 Grant from Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority
Mercy Community Health has received a grant of $90,000 from the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) to implement a central telemonitoring system. As a provider of health care services to Connecticut's aging population, Mercy Community Health is committed to improving the management of chronic illnesses among its clients of Mercy Community HomeCare and residents of The McAuley and The Frances Warde Towers Apartments within Saint Mary Home. The Client Grant from CHEFA will make possible Mercy Community Health's acquisition of Home Telemonitoring for some of its HomeCare clients and a Central Telemonitoring station for The Frances Warde Towers Apartments and each of The McAuley's buildings.
"This technology will track blood pressures, weights, oxygen levels and pulse on our clients and residents, as well as prompt them to answer questions designed to identify changes in their medical status in the early stages, before they require emergent care or hospitalization. Home telemonitoring capabilities and a central telemonitoring station on our campus will expand the breadth of services Mercy Community Health provides. We are very grateful to CHEFA for assisting our efforts to maximize our technological capabilities that supports the mission and the quality of care for which Mercy Community Health is known," said Bill Fiocchetta, President and CEO of Mercy Community Health.
Richard D. Gray, executive director of the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, suggested additional benefits brought about by this technology. "The CHEFA Board and Staff congratulate Mercy Community Health on its successful grant application to fund its Telehealth Monitoring Program. The power of this technology not only improves patient care, but also allows caregivers to substantially increase their productivity," he said.
Within three months, nursing personnel at Mercy Community HomeCare, The McAuley and The Frances Warde Towers Apartments will introduce the equipment to associates through a series of educational programs pertaining to health promotion and management of chronic diseases. Twenty Telemonitoring units will be leased by Mercy Community HomeCare, two Central Monitoring Telehealth stations will be purchased for The McAuley, and three will be purchased for clients within The Frances Warde Towers Apartments.
More information about CHEFA and its programs can be found at
www.chefa.com .
01/22/08 - Mercy Community HomeCare Ranked Among Top 25 Percent of Home Health Providers in U.S. for 2007
Mercy Community Health today announced that Mercy Community HomeCare has been named to the 2007 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 25% of agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.
The 2007 HomeCare Elite also indicates those providers who are included in the Top 100 and Top 500 of providers nationwide. The data used for this analysis was compiled from publicly available information.
"We applaud the success of all the providers named to the 2007 HomeCare Elite," said Bill Bassett, Senior Director of Market Strategy at OCS, Inc. "Being noted as one of the top performers in the nation in this very competitive environment shows that Mercy Community HomeCare is dedicated to quality and performance."
William J. Fiocchetta, president and CEO of Mercy Community Health, credits Mercy Community HomeCare's associates and their commitment to the organization's mission with its ability to gain national recognition as one of the HomeCare Elite. He said: "Those who work at Mercy Community HomeCare promote wellness, embrace diversity, and enhance quality of life on a daily basis. They provide not only health care, but also comfort and compassion. I congratulate Mercy Community HomeCare's dedicated associates, under Administrator Ellen Madigan's leadership, on achieving this recognition. We are very grateful to OCS for acknowledging Mercy Community HomeCare among its Elite for 2007."
01/08/08 - Say Hello to Mercy on the Mooove
For those of you who might not have "herd", the cows are coming back to West Hartford and this time Mercy Community Health is a proud sponsor. In working with the "cowsultants" at WH CowParade, I found an artist whose work in similar events was exactly what I envisioned for a lasting depiction of the history and beauty of our campus and its building architecture. The artist, Christine MacClintic, strolled our campus on several occasions taking lots of photos and poring over some vintage pictures from a time long ago. Her initial design achieved all that we envisioned.
The parade officially starts on Wednesday September 12th when all cows are placed in West Hartford Center. Mercy's pasture spot will be on LaSalle Road in front of the Joseph A. Banks clothier store - a prime location. The Thursday September 13th edition of The Hartford Courant will contain a special supplement on the Parade complete with photos, locator maps and information about each sponsor and artist. No doubt, the popularity of this event, will serve our community relations and marketing needs on a grand scale. The five-month long event will culminate in late January/early February when all cows will be sent out to pasture via auction or sale. Plans are underway now to assure that Mercy comes home to Albany and Steele.
Once Mercy takes residence here on campus, she will continue to draw visitors, many who had no idea who we are or what we do. What an opportunity to tell the story of our history, our mission and our plans to grow in our role as a vital community resource! Mercy will graze the different pastures around campus for years to come and in harsh weather will be seen ruminating indoors, all to the "udder" delight of residents and visitors alike.
I hope that you enjoy the photos on the website and, even better, meeting
Mercy on your next visit to West Hartford Center. In
Mercy on the Mooove, we have a masterpiece!
Bill Fiocchetta
President and CEO
Mercy Community Health
