Chase Memorial Nursing and Rehab awarded Employee of Distinction
Good Shepherd Communities President and CEO Jason Santiago, recipient of Employee of Distinction award Bonnie Kline, Chase Memorial Executive Director Patti Hitchcock, and LeadingAge New York President and CEO Jim Clyne at Chase Memorial Nursing and Rehab award presentation on March 22. (Submitted photo)
NEW BERLIN - Dedication and compassion are special gifts some people have and share with others. Bonnie Kline, an employee of Chase Memorial Nursing and Rehab in New Berlin, has these qualities and was recently presented with the award "Employee of Distinction."
Jim Clyne, President and CEO of LeadingAge New York, a statewide not-for-profit association for long term care facilities, presented the award to Kline on March 22, at the Chase Memorial Nursing and Rehab in New Berlin. Many residents attended the event which honored the long time employee.
"It's good to be back at Chase, It's a lovely place," said Clyne. "So, just a little bit about us and the award, we represent over 400 not for-profit and government providers across the state of New York and as we all know, one of the backbones of the long term care providers system are the direct care workers."
He said each year they choose 16 workers from the nominations received from across the state and recognize the work they've done over the past year. The 16 employees of distinction are chosen from those with a lengthy employment history and have shown commitment to long term care.
LeadingAge New York has a worker's distinction letter that is sent out annually to long term care facilities and Chase Memorial Executive Director of Nursing Patti Hitchcock sent back the nomination letter, sharing her experience working with Kline and how she nurtures the staff and cares for the residents.
"This is the best part of my job, I get to come out and see you folks and give awards to people," said Clyne.
"One of the recipients this year is Donna Kline, who starts off with a great last name, she spells her a little funny, but that's ok, I'm sure we have distant relatives from somewhere in the past" he said.
"I've read the notes that people have sent in about the work she does and her commitment here at Chase Memorial, and her application really stood out," said Clyne. "That is why she's being awarded with this snazzy looking certificate and even better, $200."
Good Shepherd Communities President and CEO Jason Santiago spoke next and thanked Kline for her dedication, care, and almost 24 years of employment with Chase Memorial.
"I think it's a testament to the quality of people we have here and Bonnie Kline, who won the award and has been with the organization for almost 24 years, has done a great job day in and day out and in paying attention to the needs of our seniors," said Santiago. "Some of them have really complex issues and it takes a special person to do the work our nurses and nursing assistants do and she exemplifies that."
"This is all about you, Donna," said Santiago. "I want to thank you for being excellent. Also, I want to thank you for being an excellent role model for our newer staff and existing staff."
Kline thanked everyone for her award.
Santiago said the facility has been in New Berlin for 54 years and back in 2021, the leadership at Good Shepard Chase Memorial put in application with New York State Transformational Grant Fund. In 2023, they were awarded an $8 million dollar transformational grant.
He said this will help them transform from the old ways of health care, from 54 years ago, to how they provide present care.
"We will be building a new nursing home and tap into the assisted living population too, that we know there is a need for in our immediate surrounding community," said Santiago.
"We want to help our community that may need a little extra care, maybe not skilled nursing care, but this grant funding will go toward the construction costs to build a hybrid skilled nursing facility," he said. "One that allows care for individuals that don't necessarily need to stay here but need help with dressing and grooming, things like that, but they don't need to take up a bed in the facility."
"Animals are still prevalent in the therapy use," he added. "Chase was one of the first facilities to offer animal therapy and going forward with tradition, we wouldn't want to change that."
Santiago said they have three campuses that are part of Good Shepherd, they are: Good Shepherd Village of Endwell, Good Shepherd Fairview Home in Binghamton, and Chase Memorial Nursing home, in New Berlin.
Jim Clyne, President and CEO of LeadingAge New York, a statewide not-for-profit association for long term care facilities, presented the award to Kline on March 22, at the Chase Memorial Nursing and Rehab in New Berlin. Many residents attended the event which honored the long time employee.
"It's good to be back at Chase, It's a lovely place," said Clyne. "So, just a little bit about us and the award, we represent over 400 not for-profit and government providers across the state of New York and as we all know, one of the backbones of the long term care providers system are the direct care workers."
He said each year they choose 16 workers from the nominations received from across the state and recognize the work they've done over the past year. The 16 employees of distinction are chosen from those with a lengthy employment history and have shown commitment to long term care.
LeadingAge New York has a worker's distinction letter that is sent out annually to long term care facilities and Chase Memorial Executive Director of Nursing Patti Hitchcock sent back the nomination letter, sharing her experience working with Kline and how she nurtures the staff and cares for the residents.
"This is the best part of my job, I get to come out and see you folks and give awards to people," said Clyne.
"One of the recipients this year is Donna Kline, who starts off with a great last name, she spells her a little funny, but that's ok, I'm sure we have distant relatives from somewhere in the past" he said.
"I've read the notes that people have sent in about the work she does and her commitment here at Chase Memorial, and her application really stood out," said Clyne. "That is why she's being awarded with this snazzy looking certificate and even better, $200."
Good Shepherd Communities President and CEO Jason Santiago spoke next and thanked Kline for her dedication, care, and almost 24 years of employment with Chase Memorial.
"I think it's a testament to the quality of people we have here and Bonnie Kline, who won the award and has been with the organization for almost 24 years, has done a great job day in and day out and in paying attention to the needs of our seniors," said Santiago. "Some of them have really complex issues and it takes a special person to do the work our nurses and nursing assistants do and she exemplifies that."
"This is all about you, Donna," said Santiago. "I want to thank you for being excellent. Also, I want to thank you for being an excellent role model for our newer staff and existing staff."
Kline thanked everyone for her award.
Santiago said the facility has been in New Berlin for 54 years and back in 2021, the leadership at Good Shepard Chase Memorial put in application with New York State Transformational Grant Fund. In 2023, they were awarded an $8 million dollar transformational grant.
He said this will help them transform from the old ways of health care, from 54 years ago, to how they provide present care.
"We will be building a new nursing home and tap into the assisted living population too, that we know there is a need for in our immediate surrounding community," said Santiago.
"We want to help our community that may need a little extra care, maybe not skilled nursing care, but this grant funding will go toward the construction costs to build a hybrid skilled nursing facility," he said. "One that allows care for individuals that don't necessarily need to stay here but need help with dressing and grooming, things like that, but they don't need to take up a bed in the facility."
"Animals are still prevalent in the therapy use," he added. "Chase was one of the first facilities to offer animal therapy and going forward with tradition, we wouldn't want to change that."
Santiago said they have three campuses that are part of Good Shepherd, they are: Good Shepherd Village of Endwell, Good Shepherd Fairview Home in Binghamton, and Chase Memorial Nursing home, in New Berlin.
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