JULY 2022
Mercy Monthly MERCY Minute Liz Clancy Honored as Staff Nurse of the Year
Mercy Hospital recently celebrated the retirement of three beloved associates who were familiar faces to many of us. Sharon Kozlowski, who worked in the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) for over 52 Sharon Kozlowski years retired on July 1. Beginning her career at Mercy in 1970 at the age of 16, Sharon still recalls a co-worker’s advice, “We’re in healthcare and that means we’re a team and when we help each other, we are automatically helping our patients.” Marsha Recktenwalt, executive administrative assistant, retired after nearly 46 years of service. She began her Mercy career in 1976 in a temporary administrative assistant position for a contracted company raising funds to build floors 5 Marsha Recktenwalt through 8 on the McAuley wing. When the project completed in 1979, the hospital formed its own Foundation and Marsha was hired as the administrative assistant. In her own words she said, “…the rest is history!” Peggy Schlotterbeck, Nurse Manager of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) since 2015, retired in June. She was also the proud recipient of the 2022 DAISY Nurse Leader of the Year Award. With 40 years of nursing experience, she was involved with the successful development of the fast-paced CVICU that requires highly-skilled nurses, and the creation of a nurse-driven ECMO program.
Congratulations to Elizabeth (Liz) Clancy, BSN, RN, CCRN, who was recently honored as the 2022 Staff Nurse of the Year by the Professional Nurses Association (PNA) of WNY and Catholic Health—Mercy Hospital. With nearly twenty years of service, Liz began her career as a unit clerk in Mercy’s Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) in 2002. When she earned her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University at Buffalo (UB) in 2008, she became a nurse in the CCU and has remained a dedicated associate of the unit, which transitioned to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) in 2018. Liz is member of the American Assocation of Critical Care Nurses and the PNA, and is a certified critical care nurse. She is currently pursuing
her master’s degree in Nursing from SUNY Empire State College. A busy mother of three children, ages 11, 9 and 6, Liz said that she Elizabeth Clancy enjoys being a nurse and taking care of people in their most vulnerable state. “Our patients put their trust in us and it’s rewarding when they get better.” “It is important to take good care of the patient, but I think the little extra things you do for the patient like combing their hair or playing cards, really make a difference.”
Stroke Team Celebrates 10-year Streak of Gold! Congratulations to the Mercy Comprehensive Stroke Center Team for earning the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s (AHA/ASA) Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for the 10th year in a row! The hospital was also presented the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Award that recognizes the effective use of tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) to treat ischemic strokes. In addition, the team received the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Award that recognizes quality care for patients with type 2 diabetes, a special at-risk population for strokes.
To top off National Stroke Awareness Month in May, Dr. Lee Guterman, PhD, MD, Medical Director of Neuroscience Services at Catholic Health, led an awards celebration to thank the team for their commitment to quality care. Also participating in the event were Guests of Honor Ronald and Sharon Kimaid (a retired Mercy Hospital Nurse) who took this opportunity to reunite and thank the staff who saved Ronald’s life earlier this year after he suffered a stroke.