Published: June 01, 2009 09:10 pm         

Newsmakers: June 1, 2009

•St. Vincent Clay Hospital is pleased to announce that Andrea Baysinger, RN, BSN, was awarded the 2009 St. Vincent Health Professional Nursing Recognition Award. The PNRA Award is designed to honor those nurses who have achieved a high standard of practice. The award encompasses a variety of professional roles including leadership within the discipline of nursing, holistic approach to nursing, Core Values, and contributions to the community, nursing education, and/or research.

The goals of the Professional Nursing Award are to promote professional nursing practice; to award excellence in professional nursing practice; and to demonstrate the high value St. Vincent Health places on the attributes of practice performance, professional development, and leadership.

Every year, a select number of registered nurses from across the entire SVH system are nominated for the Professional Nurse Recognition Award. This year there were 31 nominees.

The winners of the awards are kept strictly confidential by the selection committee until the announcement the night of the banquet. Selection is determined by the nominee’s commitment and display of Core Values daily. This year there were two Clinical RN Awards and one Non-Clinical RN Award presented. The banquet is conducted every year to honor the professional registered nurses from all St. Vincent Health Ministries. This year, more than 450 RNs and guests attended.

Baysinger believes that the Core Values are the cornerstone by which we identify and support the work we do each day. Her peers notice this and have commented: “She has been a champion to elevate the awareness of the plight of the poor and underserved not only in our county but also the state.” Among her many activities, she chairs the Mission Team and coordinates “Renewal Days” for associates. She has most recently coordinated the Holistic Reverent Care programs for associates.

Baysinger participates in many ways in her community. Examples of her activities include the board of directors and executive committee for the YMCA, serving as vice president of the board and chair of the special events committee and ministry coordinator for the emergency response team at her church. She is responsible for the development and implementation of free six-week Diabetes Education classes. She coordinates Community Health & Wellness Fairs, participates and coordinates the “Poverty Experience” and coordinates an annual fundraiser, “The Festival of Trees.”

As clinical and community education coordinator, she is responsible for orientation of new hospital associates, Lunch & Learns, Spiritually Enriching Education and Development activity administration program and critical thinking classes. She also serves on the hospital’s diversity team and ethics committee.

Her daily display of dedication, compassion, creativity and generosity are reflective not only in the core values but inherent as to whom she is as an individual.



•Jonathan James, a Wheatland resident and 1976 graduate of Terre Haute North Vigo High School, received Beltone retail’s top sales award for 2008 in April at Beltone’s national meeting in Baltimore.

The award was presented by Jim Cornett, director of retail stores, and Paul Giampallo, vice president of finance at Beltone, which is headquartered in Chicago.

James covers several communications centers in southern Indiana and Illinois and maintains offices in Vincennes and Jasper, as well as service centers in Washington and Robinson, Ill.



•Emily Parrott, of Lawrenceville, Ill., received a 2009 Student Leadership Award on April 21 at the University of Illinois in Champaign. On April 25 she received the Stanley R. Levy Scholarship. Parrott is a senior in community health who graduated May 16 with a bachelor’s degree in health administration. She is a 2005 graduate of Lawrenceville High School.

The awards recognize outstanding seniors who demonstrate strong interest in promoting health care. She plans to further her education in public health and complete a physician’s assistant program. Parrott is the daughter of Terre and Gregg Parrott of Lawrenceville. She is the granddaughter of Beverly Stephens of Vincennes and the late Earl “Steve” Stephens.



•HomeCare Advantage proudly announces its award for accreditation status by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. for the services of Home Medical equipment.

ACHC, a private, nonprofit corporation which is certified to ISO 9001:200 standards, was developed by home care and community based providers to help companies improve business operations and quality of patient care. Referring to the value of accreditation, ACHC President Tom Cesar indicated, “The survey process leads an organization to examine its policies and practices continually to clarify its strengths and improve its weaknesses.”

Accreditation is a voluntary activity where healthcare organizations submit to peer review of their internal policies, processes and patient care delivery against national standards. By attaining accreditation, HomeCare Advantage has demonstrated its commitment to maintain a higher level of competency and strive for excellence in its products, services and customer satisfaction.

HomeCare Advantage was founded in 2003 by principal owners Tammy and Barry Martin. HomeCare Advantage specializes in oxygen, sleep apnea products and durable medical equipment (such as beds, wheelchairs, and lift chairs) for patients to use in their home. Products are delivered to the patient’s home, and the company serves a 50-mile radius from Terre Haute, including Illinois.

For more information call (812) 234-4602, toll-free 1-866-422-4602, or visit the retail store at 185 E. McCallister Dr., or www.homecareadvantage.net.



•The 44th Annual Representative Assembly of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association meeting in Indianapolis on May 20 was attended by 300 delegates from retired teacher associations around the state. IRTA has 25,500 members and is dedicated to protecting the welfare of retired educators, perpetuating education, and providing community service. Founded in 1950, IRTA is the largest and oldest organization representing retired educators in Indiana. Delegates attending from Vigo County were Dave Fuller, Jacqueline Lower, Nina Couch-Corenflos and Lorraine Brett. IRTA President Eugene Wease presided during the morning session. Nancy M. Tolson of Indianapolis was elected as the new IRTA President.

Eight scholarship awards were given to Indiana college sophomore or junior education majors from around the state. Nina Couch-Corenflos from Vigo County, received an Outstanding Press Release Award for Area 4 and Robert Schafer received an Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.

IRTA members donated more than 1 million hours of community volunteer service for the fifth year in a row. The Vigo County Retired Teachers Association reported 26,000 hours.

Lily Lui, AARP brand communications manager, was the keynote speaker.