Health

HEALTH • Spring 2015 25 25 HEALTH • Spring 2015 [ ACCOLADES & HONORS ] Reliant Medical Group of Worcester was re-accredited in the adult thoracic area of echocardiography by the In- tersocietal Accreditation Commission. The accreditation means that an expert panel has reviewed Reliant's operation- al and technical components. Dodge Park Rest Home of Worcester was selected as a "Caring Super Star" by Caring.com, a senior care web- site. The honor is given for service excellent based on client ratings and online reviews. It's the fourth year the facility has received the honor. Phillip D. Zamore was named a 2014 Fellow by the National Academy of Inventors for his work with RNA interference. He is a professor of bio- chemistry and molecular pharmacol- ogy at the UMass Medical School in Worcester; a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator; and co-director of the RNA Therapeutics Institute. The Bridge of Central Massachu- setts, based in Worcester, was award- ed the Provider Recognition Award for Excellence in Outcomes for its cogni- tive restructuring for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, program. The Bridge was chosen by the Association of Behavioral Healthcare. Emily S. Starr and Laura Silver Traiger were among those honored by the Mass. National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, or MassNAELA. Starr was among those sharing in the John J. Ford Litigation Advocacy Award for her work protecting the rights of seniors. She is a managing partner with Starr Vander Linden, which has offices in Fitchburg and Worcester. Awards for outstanding chapter members were bestowed on MassNAELA members including Traiger, an associate with Starr Vander Linden. Dr. Tina Render, a psychiatrist with Southbridge-based Harrington HealthCare System, won the system's TLC Physician of the Year Award. She has been with the system for 10 years and is chief of psychiatry for the department. River Terrace Rehabilitation and HealthCare Center of Lancaster, owned and operated by Marquis Health Services, has earned a five- star rating from the federal Centers of Medicare/Medicaid, its highest rating for a health care facility. Greendale Physical Therapy, with facilities in Worcester, Shrewsbury and Clinton, received an "honor- able mention" as one of the top four physical therapy practices in the United States in Advance for Physi- cal Therapy and Rehab magazine's "Practice of the Year" contest. The contest included private physical therapy practices, rehab facilities and home-care agencies. The con- test was judged on five key metrics: customer service, practice growth, revenue growth, staff development and how the practice elevated the public's awareness of rehabilitation. Natick Visiting Nurse Association was named Non-Profit Partner of the Year by the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce. The award was present- ed at the chamber's 119th annual meeting and awards gala. It was based on several criteria, including how the agency has improved the quality of life throughout MetroWest. Milford Regional Medical Center was awarded 2014 Top Hospital by The Leapfrog Group, a national healthcare nonprofit. The recogni- tion is a distinction awarded to hospitals for excellence in hospital safety and quality through the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. The award is given to less than seven percent of all eligible hospitals. Beth Atkinson, of Townsend, won the Massachusetts Council of Hu- man Service Providers' Ruth M. Batson Advocate of the Year Award. Atkinson is director of person-cen- tered living at Seven Hills Pediatric Center in Groton, part of Seven Hills Foundation. GVNA HealthCare is marking its 30-year anniversary for its Gardner Adult Day Health Program and its hospice services. The center serves about 100 clients per year. Natick Visiting Nurse Association was named a Top Agency of the 2014 HomeCare Elite, a program that recognizes home health agen- cies in the United States. Winners are measured by quality outcomes, best practice implementation and patient experience. MetroWest HomeCare is also a HomeCare Elite award winner for the fourth straight year. It is the affiliated network provider for Saint Vincent Hospital, Saint Vincent Medical Group, MetroWest Medical Center and MetroWest Physician Services. Natick Visiting Nurse Association was awarded accreditation under the Community Health Accreditation Program, or CHAP. The Natick VNA is one of just two in the state to gain the status, which it's maintained since 2001. The accreditation also certifies the agency as a Medicare provider. John R. Parsons Jr., CEO of Parsons Commercial Group of Framingham, was honored by the Art beCAUSE Breast Cancer Foundation, also of Framingham. He was recognized with five other honorees at a Boston gala last month for his contributions to the organization. Patricia Mallios was named Grass- roots Professional of the Year by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), for her work in furthering advocacy efforts. She has served as the ACS CAN grassroots manager for Massachu- setts since 2012 Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester was named one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals® by Truven Health Analytics, a provider of data-driven analytics and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. The Truven study measures overall organizational performance across 11 measures including patient care, operational efficiency and financial stability. It is the 5th year in a row Saint Vincent Hospital made the list. { Newsworthy } People, providers and practices

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