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Lynn Denning: A Healthcare Hero Passionate about Helping People

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Written by DaWayne Cleckley for Community Health Net

Lynn Denning is the Medical Services Coordinator at Community Health Net, having joined the organization in 2022. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the medical offices, along with monitoring the organization’s LPN and medical assistants. Lynn’s passion for helping people is rooted in her family’s history of volunteering in the community.

Lynn Denning, LPN
Lynn Denning, LPN

“I was a preschool teacher; a child counselor at the Safe Net,” Lynn recalled her past experiences. However, it was her grandmother’s illness that made her realize her calling. “I realized at that moment that I could take care of people,” she said. Lynn’s passion for helping people goes back to her childhood when her family frequently volunteered in the community. “During high school, I volunteered at the food bank and helped with hurricane relief efforts down south,” she added.

Lynn began her nursing career in 2008 as an LPN in the acute care department at Abbington Crest Nursing Home. She worked her way up to become an Infection Control and Staff Development Nurse, earning a certification as an Infection Preventionist through the CDC. “We had a lot of staff come and go due to COVID burnout. That meant cooking meals; breakfast, lunch, and dinner for patients,” Lynn said, describing the challenges she faced during the pandemic.

Lynn was diagnosed with two types of cancer, and after a year of treatment and surgery, she was eager to find a job that would allow her to continue helping people. Fortunately, a position became available at Community Health Net, an organization that helps the underserved population in the community. “I looked at the mission and what they did for the community. I saw that they helped the underserved. I saw it as a huge opportunity to serve the community again. It’s a big change from nursing home, but I love it here,” she shared.

In her role at Community Health Net, Lynn mentors the nursing staff, ensuring that they treat everyone with empathy and understanding, making a difference in their lives every day. “I want to make sure our staff treats patients how they would like to be treated. That’s the most important thing we can do,” she said.

Lynn enjoys spending time with her family and friends at her camp in the Alleghany Mountains, where she kayaks and bonds with her loved ones. When asked where she sees the community in 5 years, Lynn expressed her hope to see a healthier community that is full of understanding and empathy for the underserved and those with mental health issues. “I want to see people come together and help each other,” she concluded.

Lynn Denning is a healthcare hero who is dedicated to helping people in need. Her passion for helping others stems from her family’s history of volunteering in the community and her own experiences as a nurse. Her hard work and dedication have made her an essential member of the team at Community Health Net, where she is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of others.

Community Health Net’s Alison Davis is All Heart and Soul

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If you weren’t aware, Community Health Net – primarily located in Erie’s downtown at 1202 State Street – is Erie, Pennsylvania’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center. The organization has served the community for over 35 years. The team at “CHN,” as its staff and patients affectionately call Community Health Net, provides individuals and families with high-quality health care – medical, dental, vision, behavioral health, and pharmacy services – regardless of a person’s ability to pay. The organization, with 7 locations in the region, is home to a cadre of about 100 staff and clinicians who love Erie and live and breathe the organization’s mission: to improve the quality of life in our region by providing professional healthcare services with compassion, respect, and dignity to all.

We could describe any of the many people who make up Community Health Net and their commitment to the community. However, there is the story of one person at CHN who defines the words “heart and soul.” She embodies community, stands for dignity and respect, genuinely loves people, and has given her life to and immersed herself in caring for individuals and families of all walks of life and socioeconomic status. Her name is Alison Davis, LPN.

We asked Mrs. Davis what drives her to help people. “My mother was my role model. She was a pediatric nurse,” said Alison Davis, a 16-year veteran LPN. “She would always talk about her patients and how much she loved them.” So when Alison told her mother about her plans to become a nurse, she replied: “If you can love people, be concerned about them, and put them ahead of yourself, then you can.” Alison has lived by those words. She truly loves being a nurse. However, even more so, she loves building life-long relationships with the individuals she cares for.

Mrs. Davis is a transplant to Erie, leaving her roots in Havana, Florida, over 15 years ago. She worked for Community Health Net most of her career in its Healthcare for the Homeless program. “CHN does not turn anyone away from good, adequate care,” she said as she expressed why she works for the organization. Mrs. Davis sees many people that remind her of her brother, who could not care for himself after suffering a stroke and dementia alone. That learned experience provided a profound perspective that increased her capacity to genuinely and deeply empathize with her patients, often extending herself after-hours to care for their needs. “Many of the patients in the program do not have family members who will support them. They need someone who isn’t going to judge them when they come in the door. They deserve to be seen and cared for with respect. We need to have compassion for people.”

Allison’s genuine love for people, along with the many other professionals of Community Health Net, gives her “Heart and Soul” and makes CHN vital to the place we call home.

 

If you love this story, consider donating to Community Health Net on Erie Gives Day on Tuesday, August 9th.  Your donation helps ensure Erie remains healthy and vibrant and will help improve the healthcare outcomes for people in our communities. Make your voice count! Thank you in advance for your support!

If you have any questions, contact Mary Lynn Slivinski, Director of Administrative Services, at mslivinski@community-healthnet.com or 814-454-4530 ext. 227.

 

 

Biggest Hearts Belong to Healthcare Heroes

Posted on by Community Health Net in

Community Health Net, Erie’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center, is home to three people who define the word “heart.” They embody community, stand for dignity and respect, genuinely love people, and have given their lives to and immersed themselves in caring for individuals and families of all walks of life and socio-economic status. Alison Davis, LPN, Stephanie Schaff-Turri, RN, and Toni Gromacki, LPN, are nurses with 59 combined years of service to Erie County. They are proven, battle-hardened healthcare heroes.

“My mother was my role model. She was a pediatric nurse,” said Alison Davis, a 16-year veteran LPN. “She would always talk about her patients and how much she loved them.” When Alison told her mother about her plans to become a nurse, she replied: “If you can love people, be concerned about them, and put them ahead of yourself, then you can.” Alison has lived by those words.

Mrs. Davis is a transplant to Erie, leaving her roots in Havana, Florida, over 15 years ago, working for Community Health Net for most of her career, assisting the organization’s healthcare for the Homeless program. “CHN does not turn anyone away from good, adequate care,” she said as she expressed why she works for the organization. Mrs. Davis sees many clients that remind her of her brother, who could not care for himself after suffering a stroke and dementia. “Many of the patients in the program do not have family members who will support them. They need someone who isn’t going to judge them when they come in the door. They still deserve to be seen and cared for with respect. We need to have compassion for people.”

“Mrs. Davis sees many clients that remind her of her brother, who could not care for himself after suffering a stroke and dementia.”

Stephanie Schaff-Turri feels the same, having spent 19 years with Community Health Net and 12 years as an RN. She is an Erie native with a background in Health Science and Community Health. “We care for one patient at a time. Individualized, patient-centered care significantly impacts families and, by extension, the community,” said Mrs. Schaff-Turri. Initially, she worked to build and ensure adherence to qualified healthcare processes and procedures at CHN before becoming a nurse. “I became an RN because I felt that I would be a greater benefit to the organization by helping people.”

Stephanie often stays after work to help her patients. She also volunteers at outreach events. “I’m not in healthcare for the money. I could be a traveling nurse and make big bucks,” she noted. “What I have is a sense of accomplishment. People who you care for appreciate you years later. They will never forget you. There is a real sense of community as I help patients.”

“I became an RN because I felt that I would be a greater benefit to the organization by helping people.”

Toni Gromacki, a 29-year veteran LPN has the same sense of duty, volunteerism, and love for people. Her family roots run deep in the Erie community. “My whole family is in nursing, social work, and community shelter services. Helping people is in my blood. So, being a nurse is a comfortable fit for me,” said Mrs. Gromacki, who started her career at Community Health Net in Pediatrics. She feels as if her patients are her second family.

Toni loves her job. She works to break down barriers to health care and ensure that everyone can access care. “Patients do not come in a box. You have to listen and read between the lines to understand their needs,” said Mrs. Gromacki. “Community Health Net offers services that they [patients] would not be able to get anywhere else. Health equity and access. That is why I get up every morning to come to work.”

by DaWayne Cleckley for Community Health Net. Read the Erie Time-News / GoErie Article here: https://bit.ly/3FyfCUJ

LPN – Full Time

Posted on by Community Health Net in

SUMMARY: 

The Medical Services Coordinator is responsible for the delivery of quality healthcare for clients of Community Health Net. Primary duties include providing a complete health history and accurately determining the client’s medical condition. In cooperation with the medical provider, promotes, maintains, and restores the well-being of the patient in a professional manner. Coordinates referrals to other health and social agencies; establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with clients, families, providers, and coworkers. Maintains an awareness of medical equipment and supplies in a cost-effective and safe manner. All nursing duties assigned are pending training and successfully passing competencies. Supports office activities of registration, discharge, medical records, and scheduling, as needed.

REPORTS TO: Medical Services Coordinator
POSITION LOCATION: Daniel S. Snow, MD Health Center
STATUS OF POSITION: Full-Time

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assumes responsibility for acquiring and documenting a complete health history by utilizing interviewing and assessment skills.
  • Demonstrates a basic knowledge of pathology, treatment, and implications for patient education.
  • Demonstrates ability to set priorities based on nursing assessment and displays strong organizational skills.
  • In cooperation with the Provider, promotes, maintains, and/or restores the well-being of the client in a professional manner.
  • Facilitates patient flow by assisting providers and providing timely telephone and walk-in triage. Including but not limited to; requests for lab results, inquiries regarding current condition, chief complaint, and determines the need for a visit or a request to speak with the Provider.
  • Coordinates and documents referrals to physicians and other medical or social agencies.
  • Consistently provides and documents health education for client/family and follow up based on individual needs assessment.
  • Maintains an awareness of medical equipment and supplies in a cost-effective, safe manner.
  • Adheres to Community Health Net, JCAHO, and OSHA policies related to infection control practices.
  • Collects specimens to assist in diagnosis determination, including but not limited to, venous blood draw, sputum, urine, stool, etc.
  • Maintain appropriate documentation, quality control testing, and practices in compliance with the Community Health Net Health Care Plan.
  • Maintains an awareness of differences in insurance plans and how this impacts patient care.
  • Maintains current knowledge of nursing practice issues consistent with scope and licensure.
  • Float as needed to Community Health Net sites to cover nursing.
  • Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements

  • GED or high school diploma required.
  • Current and valid Pennsylvania LPN license and CPR certification required.
  • Ability to use computers and Windows-based software to enter data and develop reports as needed.
  • Must be responsible, precise, and organized.
  • Knowledge of medical terminology required.
  • May be required to work evenings, weekends, and some holidays based upon operational need.
  • Community Health Net provides medical, dental, and vision services to the general public including the underserved.

We believe in providing extraordinary care to our patients. Community Health Net is Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/Disability/Veteran.

To apply, please click the following link: https://www.ondemandassessment.com

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