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University Hospital recognizes employees for exceptional service

Five University Hospital employees and two hospital clinical teams have been recognized for exceptional service to University Hospital and to patients. The awards were presented by University Hospital’s Upstate Stars Employee Recognition Team.

• Hope Silvis of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, received the Employee of the Year (clinical) award. As an occupational therapist, Silvis helps others understand the devastating effects of pain from burns. Silvis resides in Liverpool.

• Lori Plaisted of the cytogenetics section of the Department of Clinical Pathology, received the Supervisor of the Year (clinical) award. Under her leadership, University Hospital has experienced a significant improvement of patient turn around time for specialty and oncology cytogenetic testing. Plaisted resides in the town of Manlius.
• Linda Robson of the Recovery Room received the Outstanding Contribution of the Year (clinical) award. Robson spearheaded the development of the hospital’s Pain Management Program, which focuses on the continuing assessment of each patients’ pain and their response to therapeutic interventions. Robson resides in Camillus.
• Kathryn Same of Infection Control received the Employee of the Year (non clinical) award. Same oversees the management of communicable disease exposure and patient isolation practices. Her involvement in many organizations have distinguished her as an integral part of the healthcare community. Same resides in Munnsville.
• Gail Banach of the Central New York Poison Center received the Outstanding Contribution of the Year (non-clinical) award. Banach is the only poison educator in the nation to use points of service to distribute poison prevention information and conduct the trainer poison prevention education programs. She developed the protocols for the interfacing of 911 call centers and poison centers in Central New York’s 34-county area and was a guest presenter at the World Health Organization’s meeting in Belgium. Banach resides in the town of Onondaga.
• The Hospital’s Gamma Knife Center Team, comprised of nurses, physicians and support personnel, received the Team of the Year (clinical) award. Innovative improvements made by the team include the patient screening process and the streamlining of the documentation process.
• The Team of the Year (non-clinical) award was presented to the hospital’s Oncology Leadership Team, the Cancer Committee and all providers of oncology care for successfully receiving accreditation from the American College of Surgeons for a newly developed cancer program. University Hospital is the first Syracuse area hospital to receive this national accreditation as an approve cancer program.