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B12 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 HEALTHCARE HEROES | 2024 Awards Winner Category | Innovation Trinity Health Of New England TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care Team Members: Nursing teams at St. Francis and St. Mary's hospitals Team Led by: Lisa Zapatka, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Trinity Health Of New England T rinity Health Of New England has advanced the nursing practice through its TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care, a care delivery model built on the foundation of the Caritas eory of Human Caring. Under the model, patients are cared for through the collaboration of a direct care registered nurse, partnered with a licensed practical nurse or a nursing assistant, and a virtual registered nurse. Why was this initiative innovative? is team approach provides enhanced coordination and comprehensive care for the patient. We were the first in Connecticut to roll out a care model of this kind, addressing the national nursing workforce crisis head-on. rough this approach, we provide support and mentorship to newer care team members and offer career progression to our more experienced nurses. is allows us to accommodate care- givers at various stages of their careers, provide a stable and predictable working environment, and help to build a strong pipeline of caregivers to meet future health- care needs while improving patient care and experience. What are some major challenges the organization had to overcome? Change is never easy. Innovation, however, means we recognize that the old paradigm on how we deliver care requires thinking outside the box. Virtual Connected Care is a prime exam- ple of how we are able to reimagine the way we deliver care, combining the experience of a talented, caring workforce with technol- ogy to best meet the needs of our patients. What's the organization's next major goal and/or challenge? We are proud to have been the leaders in this initiative and continue to explore ways to improve what we have learned through the implementation of TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care. It is strengthen- ing the care we provide and progressing the nursing profession by employing an innovative nursing care model and allowing nurses to extend their careers beyond their expectations. Winner Category | Skilled & Assisted Living Facility Apple Rehab Uncasville Team Led by: Daniel Brencher, Adminis- trator; Renee Carusone A pple Rehab Uncasville exempli- fies the company's core values. COVID-19 left staff traumatized and caused many healthcare workers to leave the workforce. We remained committed to our residents both short- and long-term. Our team members worked together to continue to have favorable outcomes and meet our residents' needs. Over the past year, Apple Rehab Uncasville has rebuilt its staff, increased its occupancy, and improved the overall morale of the building, creating a more positive work environment. What are some major challenges the organization had to overcome? Our organization was faced with challenges after the pandemic. We have hired key personnel with fresh ideas to overcome these obstacles. We created a work-life balance with use of temporary staff, while finding the key employees needed. We created an environment where staff feel their opinion matters. What's the next major goal and/or challenge? To continue to be adaptable to the changing healthcare needs of our community. To enhance programming and educational models to give our staff the tools to optimally care for each resi- dent's unique physical and psychosocial needs. Trinity Health Of New England is proud to recognize this year's Health Care Heroes and their commitment to our community. We are especially proud to congratulate our Health Care Heroes! • Taylor Fusco-Ruiz, BS, RN, Trauma Program Manager, Saint Francis Hospital • Saint Mary's Hospital Performance Excellence Team • Saint Francis Hospital's Injury Prevention Team • Trinity Health Of New England's Virtual Connected Care Team Thank you for your contribution and dedication to our Mission! TrinityHealthOfNE.org