Berkshire Medical Center Honors Eight Employees At Awards Ceremony

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Medical Center has bestowed awards on eight employees, recognizing their dedication to excellence in the provision of health care services to the community. Recipients of the 2004 awards are: Agnes Amuso, Terry Bills, Dan Harrington, RN, Jack Henault, Helen Hill, RN, Debbie Luciani, RN, Vicki Sperlonga, RN, and Penny Stockley.

Amuso, benefit assistant in the BHS Human Resources office, was a recipient of the Service Excellence Award. She began her career at Berkshire Medical Center in 1970, as a ward clerk at what was then Pittsfield General Hospital, was later promoted to unit coordinator in 1975, and promoted again in 1982 to a secretarial position. In 1987 she joined the staff of the Human Resources office. Amuso was recognized for behavior that reflects pride in her work, and for exceeding the standards of her position.

Bills, administrative director of Labora-tory Services, was honored with the Management Excellence Award, bestowed on a manager who exhibits qualities on a daily basis that set an example for others to follow. Bills has worked at Berkshire Medical Center for more than 30 years, first as a section chief in Hematology and later as Assistant Director. He has been in his current position since 1986. Bills was cited for continually reaching for higher goals and a focus that has always remained on the right goals; quality, customer service, employees and cost effectiveness.

A registered nurse in the BMC Emergency Department, Harrington received the Clinical Excellence Award. A paramedic, he also serves as the hospital’s emergency services coordinator. Har-rington is an instructor in CPR, advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, and pre-hospital trauma life support. He is a member of the Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee. He also represents BMC at the Emergency Medical Services of Berkshire County and is a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State Trauma Committee, and Western Mass-achusetts Emergency Medical Services (WMEMS) Communications Committee, and until recently served as the Clerk for WMEMS as well as a Regional Council member.

Henault, manager of Clinical Engin-eering, was recipient of the Patient Safety Award. He has worked at Berkshire Medical Center since 1981, starting as a house nursing assistant, and has held numerous positions within the hospital since that time. Henault was honored for his assessment of the hospital’s clinical alarm system, for his service on root cause analysis teams, his professionalism and contributions to patient safety.

Hill, a registered nurse on the BMC Critical Care Unit, was the recipient of the Spirit of Caring Award. She has worked at Berkshire Medical Center since 1969, serving first as a licensed practical nurse before becoming an RN. She has served in numerous areas of the hospital, and has worked in the Critical Care Unit since 1984. She also works as a home care nurse for the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association. The Spirit of Caring Award is given on an annual basis in memory of Robert J. Diskin, who is remembered as a unique individual who gave both humor and compassion to his patients and their families.

A second Clinical Excellence Award was bestowed upon Luciani, RN. She works in surgical services, a position she has held since 1995. She previously served with the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association. She began her surgical nursing career at the BMC Hillcrest campus, moved to the main campus as a surgical service float in 1999 and to ambulatory surgery in 2001. Luciani has been a long-standing member of the Nursing Quality committee, providing a valuable resource for regulatory compliance for all surgical service staff. She has participated on performance improvement initiatives for the prevention of surgical site infections, developing and implementing policy and procedure in collaboration with surgeons and staff.

Sperlonga, RN, BHS Education Department, was recipient of the Leadership in Healthcare Award. She serves on numerous hospital committees, serves as mentor/preceptor for nurses who are entering the area of education and staff development, as well as a mentor and preceptor for new clinical educators. She is the liaison to Conte Community School, one of Berkshire Health Systems’ Partners in Education, and has coordinated and participated in many programs with Conte. Sperlonga has a master’s degree in education, in addition to obtaining certification in nursing education/staff development.

Stockley, BMC Environmental Services, was honored with a Service Excellence Award. She has worked at Berkshire Medical Center since 2002, serving on 3 East Blue. Since Stockley joined the Environmental Services staff, there have been numerous reports from patients and staff praising her work ethic and cheerful and helpful disposition.