Patricia Martin named 2021 SuperStar of the Year and Krista Pittinger named 2021 Patient Safety Hero of the Year
Patricia Martin, environmental services aide, and Krista Pittinger, certified medical assistant, at Carroll Health Group Primary Care in Hampstead, were chosen as Carroll Hospital's 2021 SuperStar of the Year and 2021 Patient Safety Hero of the Year, respectively.
Martin and Pittinger received the awards at the hospital's Associate Recognition Drive Thru Celebration held at Martin's Westminster's on September 27.
A team member for 15 years, Martin was recognized for her outstanding work in the Environmental Services Department as well as her positive influence and care while training two team members from the VSP program. VSP is a LifeBridge Health partner that provides vocational services, workforce development programs and jobs to people with disabilities, economic need and other barriers to employment. Her exemplary efforts earned her August's SuperStar of the Month award.
"Pat has been a key part of our environmental services team and the Carroll family since she began working here. Her love for the hospital shows through in her work every day, and she exemplifies the hospital's SPIRIT values," says Christopher Higgs, director of environmental health at Carroll Hospital.
"I was actually quite shocked that I won but I was also very pleased that I received the award," says Pat. "I spent a lot of time working with Corey and Sean [who participated in the VSP program] because I wanted them to come away from this experience with a skill that they could use in their future."
A team member at Carroll Health Group Primary Care for seven years, Pittinger was recognized for her diligence and patience in reviewing a patient's medications and educating the patient on medication safety. Her actions earned her November's Patient Safety Hero award and 2021 Patient Safety Hero of the Year.
"Krista went above and beyond taking the time to investigate this patient's medications, assure the patient knew what medications she was supposed to be on, educate her on keeping an accurate list and on getting rid of medications she was no longer taking. Her focus was on patient safety, which is what the Patient Safety Hero Award was designed to honor," says Lisa Rock, manager of patient safety and risk at Carroll Hospital.
Krista says she's honored to have received the award and that she's very proud to be one of many heroes in her line of work.
"Working at Carroll Health Group brings me great joy. Not only do I work with an amazing team, I get to work with and help the community that I grew up in," says Krista.
The Associate Recognition Celebration is held each year to honor team members celebrating milestone years of service ranging from five to 45 years, as well as retirees and those who were named SuperStar of the Month, and Patient Safety Heroes. During the drive-thru celebration, these staff members were given pre-packaged dinners, service pins and badge pulleys for their years of dedicated service. The following is a list of team members who celebrated 30 or more milestone years of service:
Pamela Brambeck (30 years); Cheryl Ebaugh (30 years), Mary (Fran) Field (30 years); Kathy Firman (30 years); Trudy Garzon (30 years); Carol Gierhart (30 years); Priscilla Jones (30 years); Jennifer Kerzel (30 years); Elizabeth Long (30 years); Krista McElwain (30 years); Terri Morrow (30 years); Rebecca Price (30 years); Juanita Shifflett (30 years); Elizabeth Shriver (30 years); Boguslawa Szymanski (30 years); James Witmer (30 years); Eileen Leckron (35 years); Jane Schroeder (35 years); Terri Sterner (35 years); Karen Tehansky (35 years); Pat