News and Events Archive 2010
Mercy Tyler Hospital Airs on WNEP's Good Morning PA
TUNKHANNOCK, PA (2/1/2010) - Mercy Tyler Hospital, the newest member of the Mercy Health Partners, airs on WNEP's Good Morning PA this week. You may view our video below and please also visit WNEP.
January Employee of the Month
February 4, 2010
Elizabeth Longo, 27, the Mercy Tyler January Employee of the Month,
lives a life, which she describes, as being in perfect balance. A
housekeeper at Mercy Tyler for the past three years, Elizabeth also works
as a nail technician and massage therapist at Majestic Three Salon and Spa
in Tunkhannock, a housekeeper for two, elderly friends and a part-time
caregiver for two children.
“It’s a lot of hats to wear,” she said. “But I really wouldn’t have
it any other way.”
She balances this hectic schedule with reading, cross-stitching,
exercising, shopping, vacationing – and, as she explains it - “pampering
herself.” She has travelled to Canada many times on fishing trips with her
family and to Las Vegas, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey and New York.
Assigned to the second floor patient areas, Elizabeth enjoys being
busy, interacting with the patients and helping her co-workers. “Elizabeth
is a person I can always count on,” explained Carl Androkitis, housekeeping
manager at Mercy Tyler. “She volunteers to help cover evening shifts, has
taken on extra assignments during the day and has not had one, unscheduled
absence in the three years she has been with us,” he emphasized.
Carl explained that housekeepers have close contact with patients and
that Elizabeth is always pleasant and professional when cleaning an
occupied room. ‘She also maintains very high standards for herself,” Carl
said. “I use Elizabeth to train new employees and she always does an
excellent job.”
Born and raised in Tunkhannock, Elizabeth still lives in town and
enjoys spending time with her sister, Lisa and her parents, whom she
credits with being excellent role models.
Before coming to Mercy Tyler, Elizabeth worked through high school
and beyond as a child care aide at New Beginnings Day Care and at Head
Start. Although she loved working with children, she enjoys her position at
Mercy Tyler and believes that she is exactly where she should be right now.
I’d love to see healthcare incorporate massage and other holistic
practices more often,” she said. “I hope that someday the government and
insurance companies will recognize how beneficial these practices can be to
health and healing,” she noted.
The Mercy Tyler Employee of the Month receives $100, a preferred
parking space and is eligible to be named Mercy Tyler Employee of the Year
in April.
March Employee of the Month
March 15, 2010
It is her 33rd year as a Mercy Tyler associate and still, a conversation
with March Employee of the Month, Bonnie McCain, leaves you nothing less
than inspired. Bonnie’s professional journey at Mercy Tyler began when Mr.
Eugene Geeza, now semi-retired, hired her as an aide in the Physical
Therapy area. It was a different time back then and Bonnie was allowed to
be cross-trained as an EKG tech. Typical of her positive approach to life,
she enjoyed both roles.
Eventually the two duties became full time positions. Bonnie, with the
caring professions in her blood, thought about nursing school but as a
young mom the responsibility of raising her family took precedent.
Currently, Bonnie serves as Secretary in the Mercy Tyler Outpatient
Physical Therapy Department located up behind the hospital.
Bonnie is an up-beat and very positive woman. This comes through even
during a short, casual conversation. Her supervisor is Bethany Sorensen,
Director of Physical Therapy. Bethany said, “I’ve been here for just over
three years. Bonnie is the first one here in the morning. She is always
willing to help our patients with anything that will further their care.
This includes billing, scheduling, walking them in from the parking lot -
absolutely anything. She is definitely a great asset to have in this
department and I am thrilled to be working with Bonnie. Those are just
some of the reasons why I chose to nominate Bonnie for this well deserving
recognition.”
And when asked about the favorite part of her job, Bonnie
said,”Everything. I really love my job, my co-workers and the patients. I
am a very happy person.”
Bonnie’s life isn’t just work. During a conversation you come to
understand that she is a well-rounded lady who enjoys the many gifts that
life brings. Her husband of 41 happy years, Wayne, is retired from Procter
and Gamble. The couple has two daughters, Jennifer and Diane, and six
grandchildren. “Three apiece,” explains Bonnie.
Her favorite color is green and Bonnie’s love of the outdoors explains
why. During the warm weather she likes to tend her flower beds, share lawn
mowing duties with Wayne and stay active with her grandchildren. “I love
sports,” she said. She likes playing soccer, basketball and baseball with
her grandchildren.
Bonnie McCain is the fourth child in a family of eight children. Her
parents are from Springville and they used to operate a nursing home
there. Bonnie explains that her parents’ nursing home career put ‘caring
for others’ into her blood at an early age. The family also had a large
farm and after school everybody had chores to attend to. They also helped
manage their grandfather’s farm just down the road. “We had over 40 horses
and about 100 cows,” she said.
What changes has she seen over the years? “Lots of changes,” she said.
“People retire or move on to other things. However,” she explained. “Tyler
has always been the small hospital, personable and friendly and I am sure
it is going to stay the same way.”
Any secret passions? Rumor has it that, inspired by a popular Prince song,
her husband Wayne made Christmas very special a few years ago. With the
weather starting to warm you will soon see Bonnie taking the turns on
Route 6 in her 1976 Little Red Corvette. “That’s my baby, “she said.
All of us here at Mercy Tyler Hospital say “Congratulations to Bonnie
McCain on the happy occasion of her being named Employee of the Month for
March 2010!”
Happy motoring, Bonnie.