GBMC Recognized for Excellence

The GBMC HealthCare team has recently received several awards. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the world's largest specialty nursing organization representing the interests of more than a half-million acute and critical care nurses, recently recognized our Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) with a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence. Our hospital is just one of five in Maryland to achieve this prestigious recognition.

This award recognizes the incredible contributions that have been made by the MICU staff members who are driving us towards our vision daily. They don’t rest on their achievements; they ask how they can make the clinical outcomes and care experience of their patients even better. It takes teamwork and a strong culture of improvement to earn this recognition.

I am truly honored by and proud of our magnificent MICU staff. Congrats to Rachel Ridgely RN, the MICU Nurse Manager, Monica Goetz, MSN, RN, CCRN, our Assistant Director, and all the MICU team!

Kudos to Our Lactation Support Team

GBMC was also acknowledged by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) for excellence and dedication in supporting and promoting breastfeeding.

The IBCLC Care Award is reserved for hospitals and community-based facilities that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. Specific criteria include having dedicated lactation specialists available five to seven days per week for breastfeeding families and having staff that is currently IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant) certified. This recognition validates the efforts being made by our multi-disciplinary team of nurses, nursing support technicians, lactation consultants, obstetricians, midwives, pediatricians, and anesthesiologists to provide breastfeeding mothers support prenatally, during their hospital stay, and beyond discharge.

GBMC is one of three hospitals in the Baltimore region to receive this designation until the year 2020!  Congrats to Jodie Bell, BSN, RNC, IBCLC, Assistant Director of GBMC’s Women’s and Children’s Services, and her colleagues for their strong commitment to our patients.

Gilchrist Named a Great Place to Work
Gilchrist was recently certified by independent analysts as a Great Place to Work®. Gilchrist earned this distinction based on feedback from their recent Great Places to Work/Best Workplace in Aging employee survey. Cathy Hamel, President of Gilchrist and Vice President of Continuing Care at GBMC, feels that being named a “Great Place to Work” is a ringing endorsement of the employee culture at Gilchrist. This award will greatly enhance recruitment efforts to attract more of the outstanding, compassionate employees that make Gilchrist so special. I couldn’t agree more. Well done, everyone!

ACR Ultrasound Accreditation

The American College of Radiology (ACR) recently awarded GBMC with a three-year term of accreditation in ultrasound. I am pleased to let you know that we passed with flying colors, and not one deficiency was noted on any of the cases submitted for review. Accreditation by the ACR is approved for 1st Trimester OB, Gynecological, General, Pediatric, and Vascular (Peripheral, Cerebrovascular, Abdominal, Deep Abdominal). This accreditation wouldn’t be possible without the commitment of our sonographers, who are required to maintain ongoing continuing education to ensure they are current in their field. I’d like to congratulate Tracey Stroosnyder, Clinical Supervisor, and her whole team on this accomplishment.

Great job, GBMC Ultrasound!!!

GBMC Awarded for Including Minority-Owned Businesses
Over the last year, our Construction Management Department has worked to improve our inclusion of minority business enterprises within our construction process. Last fall, we held a minority business fair and conducted interviews with several companies that had an interest in partnering with GBMC HealthCare. Because of this intentional work, we now have several minority-owned companies on our pre-approved contractor list. In recognition of our efforts, GBMC was awarded Best Healthcare Provider for Minority Business Enterprises from the Maryland-Washington Minority Companies Association. I want to commend Stacey McGreevy, CPA, Vice President of GBMC HealthCare Support Services, and Russ Sadler, GBMC Capital Resources Manager, for this noteworthy recognition.

Honoring Our Heroes
Monday is Memorial Day, a special day when we honor those who have given their lives during military service to our country. Many of our GBMC HealthCare System employees have family members serving in the armed forces. Some are veterans themselves. So, on this Memorial Day holiday, let’s make time to honor all our veterans and their commitment to safeguard our security and be mindful of our heroes — living and deceased. Let this be a moment to recognize our nation’s champions with appreciation and respect.


Tragedy Strikes Our County
Earlier this week, we were saddened to hear the news that a Baltimore County police officer was killed in the line of duty. Our condolences and prayers go out to the family of fallen patrol officer Amy Caprio and her fellow officers at the Baltimore County Police Department. As members of the community, we must remember and be thankful for all those who risk their lives to keep us safe.