Health Care Consortium honors workers at The Atrium event
PROSPECT — Health care workers provide more than just medical assistance.
They can be a voice of reason and love when families need it the most — if a loved one is sick or hurt.
To help honor these hardworking men and women, the Butler County Health Care Consortium presented 23 local health care workers and students with awards at the Consortium’s sixth annual Health Care Worker Recognition Event on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at The Atrium in Prospect.
“I think it’s so great we have so many great quality employees in our county that really take care of residents,” said Debra Monteleone, Butler County Health Care Consortium member. “I think it’s wonderful we can say we have a great county that recognizes these workers.”
Monteleone also works at Transitions Healthcare Autumn Grove Care Center in Harrisville.
Among those recognized by the Consortium was Butler County Community College’s Nursing Program students Hostensia Fotoh and Connor Francis.
“I’m just really honored obviously,” Francis said. “I was happy that BC3 got honored because I really appreciate BC3 and all the instruction and guidance they have brought to my nursing career.”
Francis and Fotoh were both also recognized by the Consortium as its 2023 Health Care Students of the Year.
Fotoh, 37, is a graduate of Government Bilingual High School in Tiko, Cameroon.
She moved to Butler in June 2019 and enrolled in the college’s nursing, R.N., program.
“BC3 is a good school,” Fotoh said. “I would encourage anyone who is interested in nursing to go there, because the instructors are really helpful. They always tell us if we need help to reach out.”
Fotoh and Francis, 20, of Meridian, each plan to pursue employment in Butler County following their graduation from BC3.
Francis plans to graduate in May of 2024 and Fotoh in May of 2023.
Nick Neupauer, president of BC3, spoke at the event, where he told a story of a nurse named Annie who worked at the hospital where his father was receiving treatment for cancer.
“Annie would come by every day,” Neupauer said. “When Annie came into that room she brought confidence, love, spirit, energy, warmth and calmness that would lift spirits.
“We’ve produced thousands of ‘Annies’ over the years,” Neupauer added. “As we expand our Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health Division — for not only R.N. but L.P.N. — we are producing more ‘Annies’ on the hill at BC3.”
Nursing, R.N. was BC3’s most-popular career program as of the start of the 2022-23 academic year with an enrollment of 230 students, according to Sharla Anke, the college’s assistant dean of institutional research and planning.
“There’s a lot of hecticness because of short-staffing and stuff,” Francis said. “But that’s one thing I like about it, because there’s a lot of job security, in my opinion. When you deal with short-staffing and things like COVID, nursing is a profession where it takes strength and dignity to take on the difficult things.”
As of January, health care and social assistance organizations employed 13,856 workers in Butler County, more than any other industry, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry’s Center for Workforce Information & Analysis.
Kara Bartmas, registered nurse home care coordinator at LIFE Butler County
Becky Bayne, community experience ambassador at Newhaven Court at Clearview
Shari Bennetti, physical health/behavioral health nurse coordinator at the Center for Community Resources
Kayla Brooks, Butler County Area Vocational Technical School student
Darlene Deemer, central intake team assistant at Lutheran SeniorLife, VNA
Hostensia Fotoh of the Registered Nursing Program at BC3
Connor Francis of the Registered Nursing Program at BC3
Julia Grooms, intake coordinator at LIFE Butler County
Danielle Grossman, certified nursing assistant/mentor champion at Quality Life Services in Chicora
Nicole Gulish, licensed practical nurse at Lutheran SeniorLife, VNA, Western PA
Tammy Heginbotham, hospice tegistered nurse at VNA Western PA
Janette Hensler, hospice manager at Lutheran SeniorLife, VNA, Hospice
Kiana Johnston, licensed practical nurse at Quality Staffing Solutions
Ashley MacKinlay, certified occupational therapist assistant at Quality Life Services in Chicora
Elizabeth Mainhart, registered nurse care coordinator at Quality Medical Services
Edward McDonough, housekeeping, laundry, dietary & maintenance at Quality Life Services in Sarver
Janie McFarland, hospice volunteer at Lutheran SeniorLife, VNA Hospice
Amanda Reese, housekeeping at Transitions Healthcare Autumn Grove Care Center
Rebeccah Rodgers, Butler County Area Vocational Technical School student
Tammy Ruediger, medication Associate at Newhaven Court at Clearview
Sarah Tusing, American Heart Association instructor at Butler Memorial Hospital
Mary Williams, licensed practical nurse at Quality Life Services in Sarver
Margie Young, certified nurses side at Transitions Healthcare Autumn Grove Care Center.
