For Immediate Release:
February 8, 2012

Southcoast Hospitals announces 2011 President's Award winners

Winners are listed in alphabetical order by home town.

Click above to download a ZIP file with photos of President's Award winners.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group announces recipients of the 2011 Southcoast President's Award for Excellence. Nominated by their co-workers, the President's Award recognizes 12 individuals and two teams for outstanding performance, culture behaviors and overall quality of services provided.

This year's recipients were announced at the combined annual meetings of Southcoast Health System and Southcoast Hospitals Group by Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO, Southcoast Health System and Southcoast Hospitals Group. The event was held December 13, 2011, at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

"I am honored to continue Southcoast's long tradition of recognizing the dedicated individuals who exemplify the outstanding cultural elements of Southcoast Hospitals Group," said Hovan. "Southcoast is built upon the dedicated service and commitment of more than 6,000 employees, by receiving this award these recipients standout among the best."

All Southcoast employees, including members of leadership and physicians who are employees of Southcoast, are eligible. There is no limit on the number of times an employee can be nominated. Winners are selected on how well they meet the selection criteria that is based on excellent performance and demonstration of our cultural elements and service priorities. There is no pre-assigned number of recipients to each hospital site.

2011 Southcoast President's Award for Excellence winners:
Listed by home town and in alphabetical order.

Fall River (2)
Denise Pineault
Occupational Health
Charlton Memorial Hospital

Kimberly Soares
Patient Accounts
Southcoast Hospitals Group

New Bedford (5)
Job Didie
Food & Nutrition
St. Luke's Hospital

Theresa Oliveria
Radiology
St. Luke's Hospital

Kristine Tavares
Radiology
Tobey Hospital

Gerald Victorino
MIS
St. Luke's Hospital

Maria L. Vieira
Knowles
St. Luke's Hospital

Somerset
Christine Lopiano
Mammography
Southcoast Hospitals Group

Wareham (2)
Joseph Couto
Environmental Services
Tobey Hospital

Emilia Sivvianakis
Food & Nutrition
Tobey Hospital

Westport
Margaret Connolly
Rehab Services
Charlton Memorial Hospital

Pawtucket, R.I.
Rita Cavanaugh-Despres
Laboratory
Charlton Memorial Hospital

The President's Award winning Team Awards were presented to the Breast Care Improvement Project and the Revenue Recovery Team.

The Breast Cancer Improvement Project group held a Kaizen event to identify the optimal model for delivering breast care diagnostic and treatment services across Southcoast. The team identified actions needed to bridge gaps and to standardize services across the organization. Those standards were designed to provide the best possible care to patients. The Kaizen event resulted in the formation of detailed action plans and an oversight committee to guide implementation. The new process will improve care and services to patients and ultimately improve the patient experience.

The Breast Cancer Improvement Project is comprised of:

• Jim Bell of Pocasset.
• Kevin Dwyer of Marshfield.
• Elizabeth Griffin of Bristol, R.I.
• Ronald LaFleur of Marion.
• Denise Mercier of Tiverton, R.I.
• David Rezendes of Assonet.
• Mary Ann Rogers of New Bedford.
• Kimberly Ryan of Rochester.
• Nancy Schmitter of Warwick, R.I.
• Celeste Settlermire of Acushnet.
• Joann Souza of Somerset.
• Beth Sylvia of New Bedford.
• Amy Texeira of Dartmouth.
• Robert Ward of Kingston.
• Jayne Wilson of Swansea.

The multi-disciplinary Revenue Recovery Team was created in an attempt to reduce denials of payment claims for services provided to patients. Denials create inefficiencies across the organization including re-work for staff and often confusion for patients. The efforts of the team eliminated re-work and allows for a better "complete" experience for patients. The team's work also resulted in a substantial financial benefit for Southcoast, bringing in $2 million over the past five years — monies that might have been lost if the claims were denied.

The team is comprised of:

• Patricia Andrade, MD, of Dartmouth.
• Urszula Andrade of Dartmouth.
• Sheila Beausoleil of Dighton.
• Gina Camara of Westport.
• Donald Colacchio, MD, of Wareham.
• Monica DaSilva, MD, of Swansea.
• Richard Demopoulos, MD, of Barrington, R.I.
• Debra Desmarais of Westport.
• Susan Domingue of Somerset.
• Melanie Holme of Rehoboth.
• Andrew Kalinsky of East Greenwich, R.I.
• Jila Khorsand, MD, of East Greenwich, R.I.
• Tushar Kumar, MD, of Bristol, R.I.
• Bethany Larson of Dartmouth.
• John Lentini, MD, of Westport Point.
• Tara Lock of Barnstable.
• Christine Lopiano of Somerset.
• Michelle Mailloux of Exeter, R.I.
• Therese Mulvey, MD, of Milton.
• Robert Nixon, MD, of Dartmouth.
• Deborah Rideout of South Easton.
• Julie Robitaille of Somerset.
• Rosemary Ritz of Dartmouth.
• Anne Ruggieri, MD, of Cranston, R.I.
• Kimberly Ryan of Rochester.
• Eileen Sugrue-McElearney of Natick.
• Jeffrey Syme, MD, of Providence, R.I.
• Sharon Tripp of Acushnet.
• Carme Tripp of Marion.
• Amy Wiegandt, MD, of Wareham.
• Nidia Williams of Dartmouth.