Summit Pacific receives USDA Rural Development Award of Excellence

May 20, 2019 5:30 pm
From left, Kirk Pearson of USDA, Ron Hulscher, Lauri Bolton, Josh Martin and James Hansen of SPMC, Ambrea Cormier and Peter McMillin of USDA.
From left, Kirk Pearson of USDA, Ron Hulscher, Lauri Bolton, Josh Martin and James Hansen of SPMC, Ambrea Cormier and Peter McMillin of USDA.

Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma has garnered two recognitions for its work in the community.

SPMC was recently awarded the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Award of Excellence.

The facility was recognized, along with its project partners at Graham Construction and Blue Room Architecture & Design for their collaborative approach to construction of the Wellness Center, which was constructed on-time and on-budget.

The USDA provided funding for the new facility, which includes a third-floor primary care suite, expansive outpatient therapy gym, lab and diagnostic imaging services, a retail pharmacy, several community conference and education spaces, a rock-climbing wall, outdoor plaza, community fitness trail with outdoor exercise equipment and a playground.

Tissue donor efforts

LifeNet Health presented its Tissue Donation Standards of Excellence award to Elma’s Summit Pacific Medical Center late last month.

“The efforts of SPMC to educate the staff and meet goals greatly supported making tissue donation possible and helps ensure that patient’s wishes to donate are honored,” said LifeNet representative Heidi Schaiberger at a Hospital District 1 Board of Commissioners meeting.

LifeNet’s website says it is “a non-profit global leader in regenerative medicine and the world’s largest provider of allograft bio-implants and organs for transplantation.”

“In 2018, Summit Pacific had a Timely Referral Rate of 100 percent, which means no donation opportunities were missed due to notifying LifeNet Health too late,” the release says. Two people were credited for donating tissue last year. The most recent tissue donation prior to last year was in April 2015.

“One tissue donor has the potential to save or enhance the lives of more than 150 people,” Schaiberger said. “The gifts of donation not only help patients in need but also gives hope to donor families in the hours, months and years following the loss of their loved one.”

Summit Pacific Emergency Department Manager Nicole Simons and Director of Quality and Risk Cecelia Tapp were singled out for their leadership and support.

Summit Pacific Medical Center received an award for its workers’ efforts concerning tissue donation. LifeNet Health gave the Elma center its Tissue Donation Standards of Excellence award last month. On hand to receive the award were, from left, Dr. Tammy Moore, chief clinical officer; Cecelia Tapp, director of quality and risk; Heidi Schaiberger of LifeNet Health; Nicole Simons, emergency department manager; and Tracy Smith, acute care manager.

Summit Pacific Medical Center received an award for its workers’ efforts concerning tissue donation. LifeNet Health gave the Elma center its Tissue Donation Standards of Excellence award last month. On hand to receive the award were, from left, Dr. Tammy Moore, chief clinical officer; Cecelia Tapp, director of quality and risk; Heidi Schaiberger of LifeNet Health; Nicole Simons, emergency department manager; and Tracy Smith, acute care manager.