Employee Selection Process Honors Peers as ‘Top Among Us’ for Second Quarter
Carthage Area Hospital recently named three team members as employees of the quarter for the second quarter — May, June, and July — of 2018.
Selection is peer-based and criteria include embodiment the organization’s core values of accountability, compassion, customer service, professionalism and teamwork.
Colleen A. King, RN, quality and risk management coordinator; Theresa M. Lampack, MS, LMHC-P, School-Based Health Clinic and Carthage Behavioral Health therapist; and Caleb Richter, MS, PA-C, Carthage Behavioral Health physician assistant, were honored last month.
Colleen A. King, RN, Quality Assurance quality and risk management coordinator
Colleen A. King, RN, is a native of Middletown, N.Y., who aspired to a health care career as a young woman because she “wanted to work with babies.”
She graduated from Onondaga Community College / St. Joseph’s School of Nursing, Syracuse, with an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing and earned her Registered Nurse licensure.
Before she joined Carthage Area Hospital in 2015 as an obstetrics nurse, King held a variety of nursing jobs, including jail nurse for Lewis County Public Health. She also previously worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Syracuse, and Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown. In April 2017, King transferred from patient care on Carthage Hospital’s obstetrics team to the hospital’s Quality Assurance team, where she serves as quality and risk management coordinator.
King said she appreciates the opportunity to continue to “learn new skills” as a veteran nurse at the hospital. “It’s close to home and I like the small town friendliness of the work environment at Carthage Hospital,” she said.
One nominator said of King: “Colleen is always available to help, answer questions, and take control of a situation. She encourages other employees and is an excellent nurse, risk management coordinator and co-worker. An integral member of the quality team, she is always willing to chip in and gives anyone who approaches her for help her undivided attention.”
King lives in Harrisville with her six dogs and cat, which she said “keep her sane.” She is a mother to two grown daughters and a grandmother to eight grandchildren. Outside of work, King enjoys gardening, cross-stitch, knitting, and quality time with her family.
Theresa M. Lampack, MS, LMHC-P, Behavioral Health and SBHC therapist
Theresa M. Lampack, MS, LMHC-P, is a Lyons Falls native who was drawn to the health care profession so she could help others in times of need.
“I enjoy being there for other people and using my knowledge and training to help them,” she said.
She is a 2002 graduate of South Lewis High School and earned an Associate in Liberal Arts from Jefferson Community College in 2004 and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from SUNY Oswego in 2006. In 2015, Lampack completed a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY Oswego. While an undergraduate student, she lived in Sydney, Australia, and completed an internship at a Salvation Army Homeless Shelter for Youth.
Lampack joined the hospital’s School-Based Health Clinic at Carthage Middle School as mental health a counselor in March 2016. She presently splits her time between the School-Based Health Clinic at Carthage High School and Carthage Behavioral Health. Prior to joining Carthage Hospital, she worked at Transitional Living Services as a therapist and a waiver services coordinator; House of the Good Shepherd as a foster parent recruitment and retention coordinator; and at the Children’s Home of Jefferson County as a direct care staff member.
For Lampack, the most rewarding aspect of her work as a counselor is the chance to “connect with others and inspire hope” while enjoying “support from my supervisor and team.”
One nominator said of Lampack: “Theresa is always looking for ways to improve herself and the clinic. She maintains a very professional demeanor and is consistently willing to help any patient who is scheduled. She embodies the values Carthage Hospital encourages all its team members to live.”
Lampack lives in Lowville with her two children, ages 7 and 3. Outside of practice she enjoys attending concerts, socializing, spending quality time with her children, and relaxing on or near the water.
Caleb Richter. MS, PA-C, Carthage Behavioral Health physician assistant
Caleb Richter, MS, PA-C is a native of Jamestown who grew up in Adams and graduated from South Jefferson High School in 1997.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry in 2001 from Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2005 from Daemen College, Amherst.
Richter said he chose to pursue a career in health care for “the challenge and opportunity to help others.”
Before he joined Carthage Hospital’s Behavioral Health team, he worked at Mercy Care Center of Northern New York, Family Medicine of Carthage, North Country Emergency Medical Consultants, and Samaritan Medical Center Urgent Care.
Of his work at Carthage, Richter said he “genuinely enjoys helping people in need.”
“Carthage Area Hospital is one of the few places that actually delivers compassionate, personalized, high-quality health care to its community,” he said.
One nominator said of Richter: “Caleb does not shy away from extra work. He continually strives to increase his caseload while assisting patients and providing the highest quality care. Caleb also embraces a leadership role in the clinic as several on staff look up to him and seek his counsel and guidance regarding patient care.”
Richter lives in Champion with his wife, Anna, a nurse-turned-preschool teacher, and three children: daughter, Kayla, 15; son, C.J., 6; and daughter, Grace, 5. Outside of practice Richter enjoys spending time with family, church activities, and running, biking and other exercise.
Natalie M. Burnham, M.S. Ed., Carthage Area Hospital director of community, patient and employee engagement, said the three team members embody the values that Carthage Hospital encourages its staff to demonstrate each day.
“Our core values are standards of conduct that we hope all employees strive to model,” Burnham said. “When we recognize members of our team who demonstrate our values, they inspire excellence and others follow in their footsteps.”
Nomination, Selection Process
All team members employed for more than one year are eligible for nomination by fellow employees, supervisors, Auxiliary members, patients, patient family members or visitors. Nominations are reviewed based on each nominee’s embodiment of the hospital’s five core values — professionalism, accountability, compassion, customer service and teamwork.
In 2017, the hospital’s Rewards and Recognition Committee implemented a selection process held by an anonymous vote open to the entire staff. A narrative of each nomination that omits employee name, gender and department is published on an online portal open for a two-week voting period. The top three nominees are selected for recognition as employees of the quarter.
Each employee received a $25 gift card, a gift basket, valet parking for a month at the hospital — off-campus employees receive a reserved parking space for a month — a plaque and an invitation to join the senior leadership team for lunch.
About Carthage Area Hospital
Carthage Area Hospital was established as a not-for-profit rural community hospital in 1965. It operates today as a fully accredited 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, serving approximately 83,000 residents in Jefferson, northern Lewis and southern St. Lawrence counties. The hospital formed a clinical affiliation with Crouse Health, Syracuse, in 2017.
The hospital also operates a network of community-based clinics, including its Philadelphia Medical Center, Family Health Center, Pediatric Clinic and Women’s Way to Wellness and provides a range of specialty care, including general surgery, orthopedics, podiatry, urology, neurosurgical care, physical and occupational therapy and behavioral health.