Cooley Dickinson technician receives scholarship

NORTHAMPTON — Emergency Department Technician Kelsey Conti has been chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital/UMass Amherst Nursing School educational scholarship.

Conti, a Northampton resident, will receive $10,000 toward her nursing studies, which she will begin in September at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing at UMass.

After graduating from Smith College in 2017 with a double major in education and child studies and psychology, Conti began working per diem in the Cooley Dickinson Hospital patient registration department. She eventually transitioned to a behavioral health technician role, where she has taken on multiple responsibilities over the last five years, including training new staff members.

Cooley Dickinson Hospital has an established educational scholarship program with the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, which supports the educational advancement of eligible Cooley Dickinson staff who are pursing either a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or a doctorate in nursing.

“I am grateful to have developed a wealth of experience in a clinical setting in the Emergency Department and am so excited to begin my studies this fall,” Conti said in a statement. She will continue to work in the Emergency Department as she pursues her degree.

Community blood drive planned this month

NORTHAMPTON — Adults interested in donating blood will have an opportunity to do so at a community blood drive at Cooley Dickinson Hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 28, and Thursday, Aug. 29.

Cooley Dickinson is partnering with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center to bring their blood mobile to Northampton. The blood mobile will be set up in the parking lot in front of the hospital’s North Building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 28 and between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Aug. 29.

“Donating blood is a crucial act of generosity that saves lives,” Catherine Reed, administrative director for clinical services at Cooley Dickinson, said in a statement. “We are profoundly grateful for our community’s continued support in providing the essential blood supply our patients depend on.”

All blood donors will receive a $10 gift card for Sunoco. A photo ID is required for blood donation. Donors are also advised to be well hydrated, drink extra water and eat before donating blood. All donor types are welcome.

To make an appointment, visit the online donor portal at tinyurl.com/CooleyA2024 (for Aug. 28) or tinyurl.com/CooleyAu2024 (for Aug. 29). For donation eligibility questions, email BloodDonor@partners.org or call 617-632-3206.

Blood products collected during this drive will used to care for patients in the Pioneer Valley and within the Mass General Brigham system.

Baystate Franklin honored with Stroke Gold Plus award

GREENFIELD — Baystate Franklin Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines.

“Improving patient care at our community hospitals is our top priority,” Ron Bryant, president of Baystate Regional Hospitals, said in a statement. “The Get With The Guidelines recognition is a testament to the efforts of our team, who strive for excellence in stroke care. We are honored to provide comprehensive care to the patients living in the many communities we serve.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

“Congratulations to the BFMC Stroke Collaborative Committee, Quality Council and all of the team members throughout BFMC who have participated in this work,” Jodi Stack, chief nursing officer/chief administrative officer at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, said in a statement. “This award highlights our team’s ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of care in our community.”

In addition, Baystate Franklin also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.