special edition!
THIS IS SPECIAL
It was great to see everyone at Tuesday’s Organizational Inservice! We are extremely fortunate that our annual meeting has a longstanding history of being a celebration. Thank you all for making that a reality. I believe we have grown and become a better company each and every year since 2000. As I looked out at the crowd at WoodWinds, I couldn’t help remembering “back in the day” when there were only ten or twelve people working at PTSMC. Now we are at 244, strong and growing. I hope you enjoy this special edition of the PULSE. The fact that we need an additional publication to highlight our people and accomplishments is a testament to how awesome you all are! The “timeline” highlights some of the major milestones we reached, organizationally or individually, throughout 2017. The BRAGs, appearing is this special edition in their entirety, are a testimony to the caliber of people we are fortunate to attract and grow. A heartfelt thank you to those who took the time to BRAG about the outstanding contributions of those being recognized. I doubt there is a greater compliment to a co-worker than being recognized by a peer. Similarly, I am always amazed and proud to look through the Service Awards photos. We are so lucky to have people who commit themselves to our mission every day – from day 1 to day 12,775 (that’s 35 years!). As I mentioned in my presentation, professional growth, development and longevity happen here at PTSMC because of the opportunities we create for each other and the culture we’ve built. Speaking to that growth, I’ve added some of the presentation pieces to the side, highlighting growth in self referrals, new patients and visits from Q1 2016 to Q1 2017, and the road head for PTSMC; continued focus on these 6 tenets will ensure our continued success. Improving the quality of people’s lives is extremely important and rewarding work. At PTSMC it is a team effort. Every person has a part in creating an unmatched experience, and every encounter provides an opportunity to build a positive life long relationship. I am confident that delivering on our mission and our PT for Life culture will assure opportunity for all of us to grow personally and professionally. As I stated on Tuesday, please reach out to me in search of an opportunity or with questions. My cell 860.930.4944. I’m honored and humbled to work beside so many great people and proud of what PTSMC has become through our combined hard work and dedication. I hope you are as excited as I am to see what comes next! Thanks for all you do,
“Sarah Alkire is an amazing co-worker and PT Aide. Both patients and fellow co-workers love her. She is always willing to go the extra mile for a patient. Sarah makes such a huge impact on the New Haven patients - they are constantly asking about her. Sarah makes it so that every patient feels extremely important and is always so patient with everyone. We are very lucky to have her on our team!” “I would like to brag about Carol Corbo! We have been a little short staffed in the Waterbury office lately and there have been many days when Carol is the only support with four therapists on at a time. She manages to stay calm, cool and collected while helping upwards of twelve patients and four therapists with different anxieties and needs. She is able to get all of that done, plus all her ordering! And, she always has a sense of humor! She makes work fun, always joining in with my obnoxious singing and bad jokes. Carol is the best and we are so lucky to have her.” “In January of 2017, HR had a meeting to discuss 2017 Goals. It was brought to our attention that Jenn Detlefsen had an idea of starting staff engagement events. She thought it would be great for employees, friends and family to get together and do something fun outside of work hours. Jenn took the lead and surveyed all employees. With the results showing a sporting event as the most popular, Jenn and the committee started planning PTSMC’s first event. At our first meeting we decided to name the Staff engagement event “Get Together” and Jenn created an awesome logo! So far, she’s organized two events and we’re excited for the third! Jenn’s great idea offered the PTSMC family more opportunities to ‘get together’! ” “Amy Fichman is always bringing positive energy into the clinic! Whether it is a funny story, sharing similar tastes in music or movies, she always knows how to put a smile on anyone’s face; patients and staff alike. She always goes the extra mile, whether it is updating the bulletin board with pictures of the staff, making sure patients always get their desired appointment, or organizing the office to make sure everything is as efficient as possible. Amy is also always spreading the word of PTSMC functions. If there is an PTSMC-sponsored event, she encourages patients to attend, while also encouraging them to spread the word as well.She is an amazing part of the PTSMC Newington staff and we are all very lucky to have her! ” “Alyssa Griffo is always striving to make the office into the best environment possible! She not only achieves this by continually demonstrating expertise within her field as a PT, she is always making sure her patients and the staff at Newington are engaged in a positive mindset through music, conversation, etc. Alyssa also has an incredible rapport with her patients, and it is evident every time they come in to see her. She does not leave their side, provides a great support, and answers all their questions thoroughly. She is everything a PT should strive to be, as well as a perfect role model.” “Bethany Grady wears many hats. She is not only an athletic trainer at Fitch HS but also is a team player at the Groton clinic. She works as an aide assisting the clinicians and even assists the PSCs when necessary. She is willing to do whatever is needed. Bethany ALWAYS offers help to her fellow athletic trainers, expecting nothing in return and managed to schedule her wedding and the purchase of her first home around her athletic schedule to minimize the work load on her peers. She is always striving to learn more and contribute to the profession of athletic training and improve her patient care to her athletes.”
2018 BRAG AWARDS
“We are forever grateful that Conner Gavin began working in Avon as an aide! He learned quickly and was immediately an integral part of the team. Conner goes out of his way to be helpful in the clinic and easily builds amazing rapport with patients and staff alike. Conner has gone above and beyond to help out when staff have called out sick and when we have been understaffed. Remarkably, he never said no to the dozens of requests to add hours or change his schedule. We are excited for him as he heads off to PT school but may threaten to keep him chained to the Avon clinic as he is absolutely irreplaceable!” “While only in her 2nd year with Westbrook, Caty Halpin is one of our veteran ATs. She has helped to mentor and support our newest athletic trainers by demonstrating best practices at her school and contributing to our PT for Life mission. She is always thinking ahead about how to improve what we are doing as athletic trainers and how we can reach out to more of our communities. Her willingness to be available to others and be a team player at the Westbrook office is much appreciated.” “Dry needling certification, OCS certification, being a Clinical Instructor, pursuing her passion for PT for dancers through continuing education and educating the dance schools in our community, being Guilford’s social media representative, selflessly volunteering to work extra hours to help cover other therapists vacations—these are just a few of the things that Melissa Lembo has taken on this year. On top of this, she is jokingly referred to as “the assistant to the assistant director” by our staff, but I don’t consider it a joke! Mel has been an amazing support to me- from being my personal safety net for things I miss, being a second set of eyes on our aides, and generally commiserating with me when I need to blow off steam - and all with a smile on her face, compassion for her patients, and belief in collaboration, cooperation and harmony. She is a great therapist, a great person, a prime example of everything PTSMC stands for and someone I am proud to call my colleague.” “Devon Macko is a delight to work with at the Plainville clinic and I often hear patients tell me how they love to come to physical therapy because seeing Devon’s smile and having his uplifting attitude really makes them feel positively about coming in. He is always helpful as a co-worker and takes initiative to help with answering phones, making patients feel welcome, and remains positive in the face of challenges. You rock, Devon!” “Guilford has had a few rough months of transition. Tara Melaccio has played a pivotal role in maintaining steadiness with clinical care. Tara is the youngest in the crew but has exemplified great maturity in the workplace and is able to provide equal care to variety of patients. She enhances the environment through simple acts of kindness or going the extra mile like making our ugly sweater blanket or focusing on the importance of patient care. Tara makes such an influence on the patients that she often receives thank you cards along with the therapist following a patients’ discharge. Her hard work, flexibility and dedication to PTSMC should not go unnoticed. Although she’s going to grad school for OT, she exemplifies PTSMC values while enhancing the patient’s experience. ” Wait, there’s more! Tara’s second bragger shared, “As one of our rehabilitation aides, there was always something different about Tara Melaccio. I noticed how interested Tara was in the therapy I was providing. Tara was always keenly aware of my needs as I managed multiple patients. Her availability and attentiveness never went unnoticed. Tara is an exercise science major who has worked at a fitness center and is most adept working in the PT gym monitoring patient’s exercise programs. I assumed Tara was following the path of pursuing graduate work in PT. I was wrong! Tara’s goal is to pursue graduate work in Occupational Therapy. She wants to make an impact on people’s lives and is most impressed with the holistic approach OT offers to patients. Tara is a positive role model at home, in school and at work. She is a very conscientious, reliable and mature young woman. I can comfortably speak for the entire staff in saying that Tara exceeds expectations in her position. Tara has been accepted into Sacred Heart University graduate program for Occupational Therapy and will begin this fall as a full-time student. I am very proud of Tara and know she will continue to exceed anyone’s expectations as a graduate student and a future Occupational Therapist.” “Jane Rosadini is the consummate team player in the Guilford office. Patients being treated for other body parts routinely come in with hand issues and, despite her busy schedule, she always takes the time to help any therapist or patient in the office, answer questions, and get them feeling at ease. Jane, thank you for all that you do help create such a friendly and caring “OT for Life” environment in Guilford.” “Danielle Spinella always has a smile on her face and since her interview, she has said she likes to be busy; something Guilford loves to hear! She has learned most of the front desk duties as an aide, while she is working on becoming a PT of her own. Her ability to multitask, stay calm and keep a smile is something we all wish we can do.” “Since starting at PTSMC back in August of 2017, I noticed right away how much Christine Raffone enhances the office. She is always willing to put in the extra hours and is ALWAYS there if I have a question. She constantly has a smiling face and is always ready to help anyone patient or co-worker. Having Christine on our team makes a HUGE difference.” “Justin Santamaria entered our clinic with an open mind, a drive to learn, and since has also demonstrated a positive attitude regardless of situation. He often asks questions about different treatment techniques or about the philosophy behind them, absorbs information, and does his own research about the topics in his own time. Justin has outstanding communication skills with all different types of patients. He has a way of making them feel comfortable, welcome, and respected. One will often find him deeply engaged in a conversation about a specific sports team or player. His attitude, drive to learn, helpfulness in the clinic, and communication skills, all make him a great asset to our office.” The PTSMC BRAG Awards are an annual award given to staff whose PT for Life actions improve the quality of people’s lives in many ways. These are awards are given by the bragee’s peers, making this recognition even more special. All have been recognized for either improving patients’ experiences, enhancing the office environment and their community involvement - and sometimes all of these categories. A true embodiment of our organization’s mission, all of this year’s recipients sincerely “walk the talk.” Congratulations to all who won a BRAG this year! BRAG recipient not pictured on page 2: Danielle Spinella
years of service awards
25 YEARS
35 YEARS
Mike Durand
Sandra boccialetti
15 years
Karen BRonson BEcky Passante & steve platt
10 YEARS anthony ciaburri, emily hansen, kathryn flodquist & kayla thomas
5 YEARS: Ryan balavender, paige briglia, craig chatfield, danielle dunn, meagan harris, hailey lugo, alison pearce & jon soderquist
2017 MILESTONES TIMELINE
JANUARY All clinics using StriveHub to measure Net Promoter Score
PTSMC New Milford opens!
FEBRUARY Sandra Boccialetti earns SHRM Certification
MARCH
Juliann Chacko promotion to Orange Assistant Director
APRIL 2017 Organizational Inservice Guilford expansion complete!
MAY Kasey Adinolfi promotion to Southington Assistant Director
JUNE
Peter Decoteau promotion to Director of Marketing
JULY PTSMC East Hampton opens!
PTSMC Family Picnic at Holiday Hill
Michelle Gallerani promotion to Senior Auditor
AUGUST Nick Almonte and Josh McAdams complete residency
SEPTEMBER PTSMC earns Top Workplaces award for 7th straight year!
OCTOBER PTSMC Tailgate for UCONN football Watertown renovation complete!
NOVEMBER Leslie Riviere promotion to Patient Services Administrator
Juliann Chacko and Melissa Lembo earn manual certification with EIM
DECEMBER Naugatuck clinic moves to a new home!
Other 2017 Highlights: PTSMC hosted 17 DPT students during 2017!
To view more event photos, visit our flickr page...link coming soon!
#getmoving challenge
For 6 weeks, over 20 PTSMC employees took on the #getmoving challenge Challengers exercised for > 30 minutes at least 3 times each week! As part of the challenge, most shared their workouts online, helping boost impressions to PTSMC’s social media accounts. In total, over 200 #getmoving posts were shared by our challengers! The #getmoving challenge also awards three individuals for their efforts over the 6 week period. Winners (left to right) were as follows: Michelle Gallerani Most creative social media posts Allyson Melillo Most logged workouts Conner Gavin Most posted workouts
CONGRATS!!