Career Pulse

NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Dr. R. Dirk Stanley, Linda Riley, and Elizabeth Cardinal all recently earned key certifications in their fields.

Stanley is one of the first 500 physicians in the U.S. to earn a new clinical subspecialty certification in clinical informatics from the American Board of Preventative Medicine. The first-ever credentialing exam was offered in October.

Clinical informatics, a medical discipline that has emerged within the past 10 years, integrates healthcare with information science, technology, evidence-based medicine, and process improvement.

“It’s a new and emerging field, but it’s an increasingly important aspect of healthcare delivery,” said Stanley, who divides his time at Cooley Dickinson between work as a hospitalist — a physician who takes care of hospitalized patients — and his role as the organization’s chief Medical Informatics officer.

“Clinical informatics is a discipline where clinical care, technology, finance, information science, education, evidence-based medicine, statistics, and policy intersect. Informatics recognizes that IT solutions are about 20{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} technology and 80{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} workflow and training,” explained Stanley, who is also board-certified in internal medicine.

Riley, a registered nurse and Cooley Dickinson’s Infection Prevention manager, recently earned recertification in infection prevention and control, an exam that is administered by the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology. The CIC credential identifies healthcare professionals who have demonstrated mastery of knowledge in infection prevention and control.

Riley said she was tested on what she does every day in the hospital, as well as other environments, such as nursing homes and jails.

According to the Certification Board, preventing infections has the potential of saving lives and reducing illness and disability. The purpose of the certification process is to protect the public by providing a standard measurement of the current knowledge needed for people practicing infection prevention.

Cardinal recently became Cooley Dickinson’s first registered EEG technologist by successfully completing the EEG technology credentialing exam given by the American Board of Registration of EEG and EP Technologists.

Cardinal, who is one of just 52 registered technologists in Massachusetts and 5,195 nationwide, performs EEGs, or electroencephalograms, as one of the many diagnostic services offered in CDH’s cardiovascular suite.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a specialized recording of the electrical activity in the brain that is done by systematically applying electrodes to the head in a specific configuration. The neurodiagnostic test shows wavelengths whose amplitude, duration, and morphology are evaluated to assist in diagnosis of neurological diseases, disorders, infections, and impact of injuries to the brain’s functions.

Of her job, Cardinal said she enjoys teaching patients and sharing her knowledge. “I also find the process of making a quality recording and reading the record enjoyable and a challenge. Every brain is a little different. I hope what I say and do is helpful to patients in many ways.”

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Healthcare has announced that two staff members have been awarded scholarships through the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation (MSCF), which for more than 25 years has supported long-term-care employees with their career goals.

Valerie Boua, from Mt. Greylock Extended Care Facility in Pittsfield, and Shaun Kennedy, from Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Pittsfield, have both been awarded scholarships.

This year’s class of 51 Foundation Scholars awardees, most of whom are seeking nursing degrees, will use their scholarships to further their professional development within the long-term care profession. The Foundation Scholars represent a broad cross-section of employees and facilities across Massachusetts and were selected from nearly 400 applicants for this year’s program, 25{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} more than in 2012.

“The scholarships provide a real boost to staff, helping them to complete the education required to reach their professional and personal goals,” said MSCF Executive Director Carolyn Blanks. “Many of our scholars have been promoted multiple times, steadily progressing from certified nursing assistant to licensed practical nurse to registered nurse and beyond.”

The MSCF, the education and research arm of the Massachusetts Senior Care Assoc., has awarded nearly $2.5 million in scholarships since it began supporting long-term care workers in 1985. The Foundation Scholars program is one of several program components initiated to promote and support lifelong educational and professional development.

 “Berkshire Healthcare is proud to have such motivated and talented staff members working at our communities,” said William Jones, president of Berkshire Healthcare Systems. “We applaud our scholarship winners and thank the Mass. Senior Care Foundation for its support of professional growth in the field of long-term care.”

Berkshire Healthcare owns or operates 16 rehabilitation and skilled-nursing facilities (14 in Massachusetts, one in Ohio, and one in Pennsylvania); Kimball Farms, a life-care, continuing-care retirement community in Lenox; and HospiceCare in the Berkshires for those with life-limiting illnesses. Berkshire Healthcare is managed by an affiliate of Berkshire Health Systems. For more information, visit www.berkshirehealthcare.org.

WORCESTER — At the annual board meeting of AdCare Hospital of Worcester Inc., Jeffrey Hillis was voted in as president, and Christine Judycki-Crepeault was elected treasurer, in addition to serving as the board clerk. Finally, Ellen Barry was elected to the board for a two-year term.

Hillis has served as vice president of Administration at AdCare Hospital since 2002 and more recently as chief operating officer. “Jeffrey Hillis is a third-generation family member embracing a commitment to delivering quality treatment to patients,” commented David Hillis, the hospital’s chairman and CEO. In his new role as president, Jeffrey Hillis will oversee and continue to be actively involved in hospital operations, including managed care, finance, legal issues, and employment for the AdCare Hospital system, which is comprised of a 114-bed inpatient treatment facility with six outpatient locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

During his tenure at AdCare, Jeffrey Hillis has coordinated Joint Commission, CMS, Mass. Department of Public Health, DEA, and other survey processes for AdCare Hospital. He has also been involved with the state’s health-reform laws, as well as monitoring the implementation of the CMS demonstration in Massachusetts for residents that are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

A graduate of Stonehill College in Easton, Jeffrey Hillis holds JD and MBA degrees from Suffolk University in Boston. Previous experience in finance includes a position as senior tax consultant with a strong focus on healthcare for the professional-services firm Deloitte & Touche in Boston.

Judycki-Crepeault joined AdCare Hospital as chief financial officer in 2002. Previous experience includes positions as corporate comptroller of the healthcare system and comptroller of the Providence House Nursing Homes within the Saint Vincent Healthcare System.

A certified public accountant, she holds an MBA from Clark University in Worcester and a BS from Bentley College in Waltham. She is an active supporter of Abbey’s House, a nonprofit organization in Worcester aiding homeless and battered women and children, serving as a board member, vice treasurer, and chairperson of the finance committee, as well as a shelter volunteer.

Barry, a newly elected AdCare board member, also chairs the patient and family advisory committee at the hospital. “Ellen is a passionate advocate for families struggling with the devastating effects of addiction,” Jeffrey Hillis said.

A realtor with Susan A. Flynn & Associates in Shrewsbury, Barry has more than 25 years of experience developing and coordinating fund-raising events for nonprofit programs in Worcester. Previous experience includes a position as development officer for the UMass Memorial Foundation and as a research, education, and information-services associate for the UMass Medical School Library. In addition, she is a founding board member of the Planting the Seed Foundation, a program to support homeless families in Worcester, and served on the board of directors of Hope Lodge from 1990 to 2002.