Appreciation was the theme of evening on November 29, 2018 at Talbot Country Club, as University of Maryland Memorial Hospital Foundation hosted its annual event for donors. Gathered for the occasion were donors and friends who supported various fundraising drives and events during the past year to benefit programs and services of UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center, the Cancer Center and UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown.

The program was led by Moorhead Vermilye, vice chairman of the UM Memorial Hospital Foundation Board. Vermilye introduced other Foundation board members who were in attendance, including Joe Schultz, Jacque Smith Hook, Mark Freestate, Steve Ochse and Keith McMahan, and read a letter he had received from recent hospital patient extolling the excellent care she had received at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton. Vermilye also thanked everyone for their efforts and support for the Foundation’s fundraising events and appeals, noting that as of October 31, 2018, the Foundation had provided $1,340,436 in support for hospital programs and technology needs, patient care services and nursing scholarships.

Ginny Biondi – Claws for Cause Committee, Mark Freestate – UM Memorial Hospital Foundation Board member, Graham Lee – vice president, Philanthropy.

Shore Regional Health CEO and President Ken Kozel took the podium after Vermilye to offer his profound gratitude, on behalf of the UM SRH Board and Senior leadership, for the “time, talents and financial support” the Foundation, its donors and volunteers commit to enhancing patient care in the hospital and its outpatient locations. In particular, he expressed thanks to the Easton hospital auxiliary, led by Liz Hannegan, for the Auxiliary’s recent gift of $100,000 to support the Foundation’s year-end appeal, which will benefit the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center. Kozel closed by reading a letter from UM Memorial Hospital Foundation supporter Tim Kagan regarding the excellent care received by his wife at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton.

Speaking about the Foundation’s support for nursing scholarships was Ruth Ann Jones, senior vice president, Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. Jones noted that scholarship support enables hospital nurses to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, advancing their knowledge and competencies and enhancing the care they provide. She also thanked members of the scholarship committee, led by Keith McMahan, for their efforts throughout the year. UM SRH nurses Lisa Lisle and Jeannine LeMieux shared their stories illustrating the difference nursing scholarship support has made in their nursing careers and their contributions to patient care.

Michael Weise, owner of Pensel & Walker Opticians and committee member of the Foundation’s 2018 Sporting Clays Classic held in June at the Point at Pintail in Queenstown, thanked the event’s committee members, sponsors and participants for their success in helping to raise $79,248 to benefit the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center’s Wellness for Women (WFW) outreach program. WFW provides uninsured and underinsured women with age- and risk-specific mammography screenings and breast exams at no charge.

Mary Alice Vanhoy, Ed Lisle, Lisa Lisle, Gary Jones and Ruth Ann Jones.

UM Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown Manager Mary Alice Vanhoy reported on the success of this year’s Claws for a Cause Crab Feast, held in July at Fisherman’s Crab Deck on Kent Island. Thanking event chairs Heather Comegys and Holly Rhodes and their fellow committee members, Vanhoy noted that the event raised $36,462 to support the purchase of ceiling-mounted patient lifts in the Center.

The success of the 2018 UM Memorial Hospital Foundation golf tournament was discussed by Martha Clark, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Telemetry manager at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton. Held in September at Talbot Country Club, the tournament attracted 32 foursomes and 43 sponsors, and netted $91,749 for the hospital’s ICU. The proceeds will be placed in the UM Memorial Hospital Foundation’s ICU Fund to purchase new equipment.

A special highlight of this year’s donor appreciation event was a testimonial offered by Easton-based gastroenterologist Michael J. Fisher, MD, a cancer survivor who undertook his treatment at the Cancer Center at Shore Regional Health. Dr. Fisher expressed his gratitude for the Cancer Center’s state-of-the-art treatment technologies and the outstanding professionalism and expertise of its treatment providers and support staff. He also shared his appreciation for being able to receive quality care locally, rather than having to travel to Baltimore, and thanked all donors whose support for the Foundation has helped make this possible.

Christopher Levey, MD, Cancer Committee chair, Kate Levey, Karen Fisher and Jacque Smith.

Brian Leutner, executive director, Oncology Services and Shore Medical Center at Dorchester, summarized the difference Foundation support has made in cancer care at UM SRH. He noted that the 2017 end of year appeal funded the purchase of a digital portable x-ray machine for radiology and the current year-end appeal will fund the purchase of a second 3-dimensional tomosynthesis mammography machine for the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center. Having the second machine, he noted, will reduce patient wait times and anxiety.

Leutner also described how the Breast Center’s services have grown in the past five years. The number of patients seen has increased by 100 percent, the number of biopsies by 64 percent, and the number of breast cancers diagnosed by more than 200 percent.

Before closing the program, Graham Lee, vice president, Philanthropy for UM Shore Regional Health provided updates on the current year-end appeal, expressing his gratitude for donors who have made major gifts: the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, the Meoli Companies/McDonald’s Restaurants, the employees of Tri-Gas & Oil, the Auxiliary of Memorial Hospital at Easton, the Ferree Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Health Foundation, and Bob and Ruth Carmean.

Lee also thanked the sponsors of third party events that have supported the Cancer Program in the past year: Gary and Janet Wright and the Prostate Cancer Golf Tournament which supports the David Whitby Cancer Fund; Victor and Teresa Michael and the Lowes Wharf Fundraiser for the Peggy Rosato Cancer Fund; and Ken and Emma Jean Morgan of Robin’s Nest Floral & Garden Center, creators of  the Winter Design Showcase in support of the Clark Comprehensive Breast Center.

To make a gift to UM Memorial Hospital Foundation, contact Graham Lee, 410-822-1000, ext. 5509, grahamlee@umm.edu. For more information, visit the Foundation website at http://ummhf.org.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,500 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Bereaved Parent Grief Support Group — First Monday of each month; Dec. 3 and Jan. 7. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Compass Regional Hospice, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville. A drop-in group for individuals, 18 and older, dealing with the loss of a child. For more information, contact Rhonda Knotts at 443-262-4109 or rknotts@compassregionalhospice.org.

HALOS-Healing After a Loved One’s Suicide Grief Support Group — Second Wednesday of each month; Dec. 12 and Jan. 9. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Compass Regional Hospice, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville. A drop-in group for individuals, 18 and older, dealing with the loss of a loved one from suicide. For more information, contact Rhonda Knotts at 443-262-4109 or rknotts@compassregionalhospice.org, or Wayne Larrimore at 443-262-4108 or wlarrimore@compassregionalhospice.org.

Drug Overdose Grief Support Group — Third Thursday of each month; Dec. 20 and Jan. 17. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Compass Regional Hospice, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville.  A drop-in group for individuals, 18 and older, dealing with the loss of a loved one from drug overdose. Please join us for dinner and conversation/discussion. There also may be special guests or presenters to the group from time to time. There will be a special guest during the January meeting. For more information, contact Rhonda Knotts at 443-262-4109 or rknotts@compssregionalhospice.org, or Linda Turner at 443-262-4120 or lturner@compassregionalhospice.org.

All Losses Grief Support Group — Fourth Tuesday of each month. Due to the Christmas holiday, there will be no group meeting in December. The group will begin its regular meetings again on Jan. 22. From noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Caroline County Public Library, Federalsburg branch, 123 Morris Ave., Federalsburg. A drop-in group for individuals, 18 and older, who have experienced any type of loss. Please bring a lunch. For more information, contact Wayne Larrimore at 443-262-4108 or wlarrimore@compassregionalhospice.org.

Compass Regional Hospice – Care on your terms

Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland and accredited by the Joint Commission. Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages through the challenge of living with a life-limiting illness and learning to live following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of hospice care and grief support in Queen Anne’s, Kent and Caroline counties. “Care on your terms” is the promise that guides staff and volunteers as they care for patients in private residences, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and the residential hospice centers in Centreville and Chestertown. Grief support services are offered to children, adults and families of patients who died under hospice care, as well as members of the community who are grieving the loss of a loved one, through The Hope and Healing Center. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, visit compassregionalhospice.org.

Doris Tate, CRNP with Tamra Sanders, a former patient of the Center who shared her story at the event.

UM Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology celebrated its 10th anniversary at an open house event on Friday, November 16 in the Health Education Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton.

The event featured a timeline display highlighting the Center’s growth and development since its founding in 2008 and a brief program featuring remarks by Ken Kozel, president and CEO, Bayan Mesmar, MD, the Center’s medical director; Tamra Sanders, a longtime patient of the Center; and Trish Rosenberry, regional director, Specialty Clinics, Rosenberry offered special recognition for staff members Michelle Gomez and Carolyn Crist, both of whom have been with the Center since its inception.

Those in attendance, including a host of present and former patients of the Center, enjoyed a demonstration and sampling of a diabetes-friendly food preparation demonstration by Michelle Gomez and Karen Hollis, nurse diabetes educator.

Kozel noted that each year, the Center now provides care to more than 5700 patients and offers 48 three-session Diabetes Self Management programs in Chestertown and Easton. In addition, diabetes nurse educators provide one-on-one nutritional counseling and treatment support, lead monthly support groups in Cambridge, Chestertown, Denton and Easton, and participate in various community health events around the five county region.

“The Center’s 10th Anniversary is certainly an occasion to celebrate – and on behalf of Senior Leadership and our Board members, I thank all of you who have helped it grow and develop over the past decade and those more recently arrived who are now part of the team,” Kozel said. “Your expertise and dedication are helping UM Shore Regional Health achieve our Vision to Be the Region’s Leader in Patient Centered Care.”

UM Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology celebrated its 10th anniversary with two open house events, one on Friday, November 16 in the Health Education Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, and a second on Tuesday, November 27 in the Conference Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.

Chrissy Nelson, diabetes nurse educator at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown (left) with Trish Gruber of Chestertown Natural Food

Each year, the Center now provides care to more than 5700 patients and offers 48 three-session Diabetes Self Management programs in Chestertown and Easton. In addition, diabetes nurse educators provide one-on-one nutritional counseling and treatment support, lead monthly support groups in Cambridge, Chestertown, Denton and Easton, and participate in various community health events around the five county region.

In Chestertown, the Diabetes Support Group welcomed guests for a wellness-themed open house that featured representatives from local health-related businesses and services. Krista Lamoreaux, of Herbal Alchemy, offered a presentation on holistic approaches to managing Type 2 Diabetes, and representatives of Chestertown Natural Foods, Melaleuca and Fit Flock were on hand to provide information about their wellness services. Figg’s Ordinary Bakery and Cafe provided food samples.

“There was a lot of really useful information presented to the group,” says Chrissy Nelson diabetes nurse educator and group leader. “Everyone appreciated learning about local resources to help maintain their best health.”

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Paige Carroll, a certified nursing assistant with Compass Regional Hospice, is the most recent recipient of the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Hospice Caregivers Award.

Carroll was nominated by a patient’s family member, to recognize her commitment to compassionate and personalized end‐of‐life care.

Each staff member is committed to the mission of Compass Regional Hospice, which is to provide “Care on your terms” to individuals, families and the community through comprehensive, professional and compassionate end‐of‐life care and grief support.

Carroll was singled out for the care she provided to the nominator’s loved one. She is involved with many aspects of a patient’s hospice care, including feeding, personal care, administering medication, assuring residents are comfortable and safe, and collaborating with team members to meet a resident’s plan of care. Carroll has been providing compassionate care to Compass Regional Hospice’s patients since March 2017.

L-R: Heather Guerieri, executive director, Compass Regional Hospice; Kirk Helfenbein of Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home; and Paige Carroll, certified nursing assistant.

The Hospice Caregivers Award nominator wrote, “Paige is the epitome of dedication, compassion, selfless devotion, and generosity of heart.”

Carroll typically works out of the six-bed Hospice Center in Centreville. An upcoming expansion to the Hospice Center will bring the facility to 10 beds by next year.

“You knew the amazing level of care Paige gave by the degree of detail she would relay, and just by watching her in action at the center,” the nominator wrote. “She never waited until he (or we) asked for something, she watched and anticipated so she could meet his needs before he would even ask most times.”

The nominator said, most importantly, Carroll gave her time to their loved one: “stopping in his room and chatting with him often throughout her shifts.”

“As was fitting, it was Paige by his bedside when he passed, and so we find great peace knowing that at his most vulnerable time, he was not alone, and he knew he was with someone who truly loved him,” the nominator wrote.

The quarterly Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Hospice Caregivers Award is open to physicians, nurses, social workers, bereavement counselors, hospice aides, chaplains, administrative staff and volunteers of Compass Regional Hospice who care for patients in Queen Anne’s, Kent and Caroline counties.

When presenting the award to Carroll, Kirk Helfenbein told the staff of Compass Regional Hospice that 11 staff members were nominated during the last quarter.

To nominate a hospice caregiver, contact Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 408 S. Liberty St., Centreville, at 410‐758‐1151 or info@fhnfuneralhome.com.

Compass Regional Hospice – Care on your terms

Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland and accredited by the Joint Commission. Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages through the challenge of living with a life-limiting illness and learning to live following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of hospice care and grief support in Queen Anne’s, Kent and Caroline counties. “Care on your terms” is the promise that guides staff and volunteers as they care for patients in private residences, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and the residential hospice centers in Centreville and Chestertown. Grief support services are offered to children, adults and families of patients who died under hospice care, as well as members of the community who are grieving the loss of a loved one, through The Hope and Healing Center. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, visit compassregionalhospice.org.

Talbot Hospice House CNA/CMT Cheryl Dennis recently received the Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam (FHN) Funeral Home Caregivers Award. This quarterly award recognizes Talbot Hospice caregivers for their selfless devotion and generosity of heart and is based upon a nomination from a patient, family, or peer. FHN also makes a donation in the recipient’s honor to the “Caregiver’s Heart” Scholarship Fund for a deserving local high school senior to pursue a career in nursing.

In their nomination,a family recently served by Talbot Hospice said, in part, about Dennis, “Cheryl helped not only our mother, but all of us as well get through her final days. It takes special people to work in this field, and Cheryl definitely has what it takes. I thank God for her every day for the care she provided and the care that I know she provides to other patients and families that need her at their most desperate times.”

“The Caregiver Award exemplifies an individual who has gone above and beyond to care for patients and their families,” said Vivian Dodge, Talbot Hospice Executive Director. “We are very proud of Cheryl to have received this award.”

Photo: Cheryl Dennis (second from right) receives the Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home Caregiver Award from FHN Funeral Directors Jen Chance, Justin Britcher, and Pearl the grief therapy dog. Talbot Hospice Executive Director Vivian Dodge is far right.

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s continuing commitment to improve the patient experience attains another milestone in December when the entire health care network transitions its medical records system to Portfolio, a state of the art electronic medical health record system.

Set to “go live” on December 2, Portfolio will enhance clinical decision making and collaboration throughout UM Shore Regional Health by providing physicians, nursing and other clinicians with timely, comprehensive medical information that is secure, standardized, and easily shared by colleagues to better coordinate care.  This coordination includes those outside of the UMMS network, integrating information from nearly every touchpoint of a patient’s care.

“Portfolio will improve patient safety and outcomes across Shore Regional Health and everywhere within the University of Maryland Medical System,” says William Huffner, MD, chief medical officer and senior vice president, Medical Affairs. “The new system provides exceptional service to the patients and clinical staff, creating a better experience for everyone.”

According to Dr. Huffner, clinicians and support staff in UM SRH locations throughout the five county region have dedicated months to training and education on the new system and are prepared for the transition. “As with any major information technology change such as this, however, patients and visitors may experience a slight wait as staff familiarize themselves with all aspect of the system.

“Using Portfolio provides a common foundation for patients to access and engage with all clinical programs, providers and services at Shore Regional Health and the University of Maryland Medical System,” says Ruth Ann Jones, chief nursing officer and senior vice president, Nursing and Patient Care Services. “An additional benefit of Portfolio is that it eliminates the need for patients to register multiple times and allows the patient to be the keeper of his or her overall health record from encounters at different entities within UMMS.”

Many people are already familiar with Portfolio, which is in use now at most physician and provider offices affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health as well as other health systems. Portfolio, created by Epic Systems Corporation, is the one of the most widely used electronic medical records systems in the U.S. and around the world.

About UM Shore Regional Health: As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,600 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers work with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

Two local community leaders, Robert D. Rauch, P.E., of Easton and Samuel T. Shoge, of Chestertown, have recently been appointed to the Board of Directors of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health.

Talbot County native Robert D. Rauch has spent his career in professional engineering, construction management and commercial real estate. Presently, he is owner and president of A/E Consultant, Robert D. Rauch and Associates, RDR Commercial, LLC, RDR Environmental, LLC and Rauch Investments, LLC.

Rauch’s professional accomplishments and contributions to his community include serving as the first coordinator for Maryland’s Flood Insurance Program and as consultant to the World Bank for Critical Path Scheduling and Project Management Training to International Engineers. He has been honored as recipient of the Sussex, Delaware Conservation District Governor’s Conservation Award, the Talbot County Small Business of the Year Award (2016) and the Talbot County Businessman of the Year Award (2017).

A graduate of University of Maryland, College Park with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Rauch pursued continuing education in Finite Element Modeling Advance Training at Princeton University.

In addition to his membership on UM Shore Regional Health’s Board of Directors, Rauch serves on the University Systems of Maryland Board of Regents, the University of Maryland Medical Systems Board of Directors, the University of Maryland College of Civil and Environmental Engineering Board of Visitors and the University of Maryland School of Architecture Colvin Institute Board of Advisors. Previously, he served on the boards of the Harry Hughes Center of Agro-Ecology, the Talbot County Historical Society, Friends of Northeast Sports Park, St. Mark’s Methodist Church and the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce.

Robert D. Rauch and Samuel T. Shoge

Samuel T. Shoge, a native and current resident of Kent County, is the economic development coordinator for Talbot County’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Previously, he was  admissions counselor and Assistant Director in the Admissions Office at Washington College in Chestertown.

Shoge is a graduate of Elon University in Elon, N.C., where he pursued environmental studies, public administration, political science and geographic information systems.

Shoge is involved in Kent County community affairs, serving as firefighter with the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company and as an elected member of the Chestertown Town Council, Chestertown Main Street and Arts and Entertainment District Advisory Board, Chestertown Marketing Committee, Kent School Marketing Committee, and Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s. He also is a co-founder of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals and has helped lead its growth to include up to 250 members.

Speaking on behalf of the UM SRH Board, John Dillon, chairman, stated,“We are very pleased to have Bob Rauch and Sam Shoge join us in ensuring that University of Maryland Shore Regional Health will successfully navigate the changing landscape of health care. Their strong personal commitment to the communities we serve, as well as their outstanding professional expertise and accomplishments, make them valuable assets to our efforts going forward.”

In addition to Robert A. Chrencik, CEO, University of Maryland Medical System, and Kenneth Kozel, president and CEO, UM Shore Regional Health, current UM SRH Board members are: John W. Ashworth, Charles Capute, Art Cecil, Joseph J. Ciotola, Kathleen Deoudes, John Dillon, Marlene Feldman, Wayne L. Gardner, Sr., Wayne Howard, Richard Loeffler, Charles B. MacLeod, Keith McMahan, David Milligan, Charles B. Noll, Geoffrey F. Oxnam, Robert D. Rauch, Stephen Satchell, Samuel T. Shoge, Thomas Stauch, MD and Glenn L. Wilson.

“Our board members live and work in our communities“, says Kozel.“I believe their diverse knowledge and perspectives position us well to achieve our vision of being the region’s leader in patient centered health care,” says Kozel.

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,300 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers work with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.