United Hospice of Rockland Presents Maureen Caunitz with 2011 Harvey Pachter Award

NEW CITY- United Hospice of Rockland (UHR) Executive Director Amy Stern presented the 2011 Harvey Pachter Staff Recognition Award to UHR receptionist, “the voice of hospice,” Maureen Caunitz at an awards breakfast on June 30th at the Paramount Country Club in New City.  The annual award honors a dedicated UHR staff member for extraordinary service to the organization. Winners of the Harvey A. Pachter Recognition Award are chosen for their outstanding performance and dedication in exceptional service, program creation, administrative development and educational advancement.  Any staff member may nominate another or themselves. The Board of Directors reviews the nominations and selects a winner.

Sponsored by Harvey Pacter’s wife and longtime UHR board member Judith Pachter and Harvey’s sister Arla Rosmarin, the Award was established in 1997 to honor the memory of Harvey Pachter, a longtime supporter of United Hospice of Rockland.  

UHR Executive Director Amy Stern says that the award makes it possible to show staff a measure of appreciation for the remarkable work that is done throughout the year with a breakfast get-together and the special recognition. She says, “The public recognition of peers, administration and the Board during the annual breakfast is quite stirring; just being nominated is cause for celebration. The winner also receives a check in the amount of $700.00.  It’s just a nice way of saying ‘thank you’ once a year.”

In presenting this year’s award UHR Executive Director Amy Stern said: “2011’s Pachter award winner demonstrates outstanding loyalty and commitment to the mission and purpose of hospice. ‘Willingness to go the extra mile’ certainly describes her to a tee.  She has been employed at UHR for 18 years.    

“She is the first introduction to hospice for many of our patients and families.  The initial impression that people most often have of UHR is shaped in part by the experience they have when they call the office for the first time.  She has the unique ability to make everyone she speaks with feel special and the focus of her concern.  No matter what the call volume or the demands of the staff and volunteers in the office, she makes every effort to ensure that our patients and families know that they are special and cared for by this agency. Her professional, helpful attitude and tone of voice is critical to a family in crisis.  She does not get rattled easily and is adept at soothing the most distressed caller.  I have seen the reaction when a current or former family comes into the office for the first time.  They feel like they are meeting a long lost friend.  Countless thank you notes in which gratitude has been conveyed to the direct care staff has also included thanks to her. During snowstorms and telephone service crises, she maintains a refuge of calm.  

“She is always supportive to the client care staff.  She always tries to help.  She will find a way to calm fears even when the road is difficult.  She never hesitates to compliment her colleagues for a job well done.  She has a first row seat in viewing the relationship between staff and patients and families.  She recognizes when a staff member is particularly saddened or stressed.  She will try to ease stress with a simple word of comfort or cheer. 

“Having the best interest of UHR at heart and being active in the community, she never fails to promote UHR’s mission wherever she goes.  If she reads something in the newspaper or sees something on television that she thinks may be of benefit to UHR, she is quick to relay the information to the appropriate person.   She is quick to pitch in and help with whatever needs to be done. Recently, a co-worker was out on leave for several months.  She stepped right up and immediately took over this person’s primary responsibility.  She coordinated volunteer assistance to help in covering for her own job. She knew this responsibility would last three months and just did it-no complaints, maintaining an enviable equilibrium and cheerful disposition.

It gives me great pleasure to present this year’s Harvey Pachter Award for Staff Excellence to Maureen Caunitz.”

Employees were also recognized for years of service. Harvey Pachter Longevity Recipients 2011 included:

Five Years
*      Peggy Baker – RN
*      Grace Burger – Social Worker
*      Lisa Denburg – Assistant Director of Development
*      Linda Domizio – Director of Residential Services
*      Sharami Kerr, Ph.D – Healing Hearts Program Coordinator
*      Barbara McCole – Massage Therapist
*      Jill McCready – Massage Therapist
*      Martha Patterson – Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
*      Natalie Peters – Certified Home Health Aide
*      Colleen Velten - RN
*      John Whalen – Continuous Care RN

  

Ten Years
*     Rosalind Davis – Palliative Care Social Worker
*      Jane Fried – Social Worker
*      Mary Lynne Schiller- Social Worker

 
Fifteen Years
*      Mary Higgins – Certified Home Health Aide
*     Joan O’Brien – Office Manager

 
United Hospice of Rockland (UHR) serves as a community resource for bereavement support, palliative care, and information about end of life issues, leading the health and human services community in improving the provision of care to those affected by serious illness. Founded in 1988, United Hospice of Rockland Inc. (UHR), a 401(c3) nonprofit corporation, serves as a resource for palliative care, bereavement support, and information about end of life issues. United Hospice of Rockland is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and meets the Standards for Charity Accountability of the Better Business Bureau, Inc. UHR received a second consecutive 4-Star rating, the highest rating, from Charity Navigator, the only non-for-profit in Rockland County to receive that top rating UHR’s mission is to enable patients with advanced illnesses to live in comfort, with dignity, and surrounded by those they love. When time matters most, UHR provides care, comfort and improved quality of life to individuals and their families and offers compassionate support to members of the community who have experienced the loss of a loved one.  For further information, contact United Hospice of Rockland, 11 Stokum Lane, New City, NY 10956.  Call 845 634-4974 or visit www.hospiceofrockland.org.