Mercy Medical Center administrator receives Catholic Health Systems award

Beth Hammerman, Mercy Medical Center’s Director of Planning and Community Health, has received the 2011 Patrick J. Scollard Award for Leadership from Catholic Health Services of Long Island.

The annual award represents the highest level of leadership recognition within the Catholic Health Services system, honoring an employee who has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills and commitment to his or her facility, CHS, and the communities they serve.

Hammerman, a Rockville Centre resident, was honored at the system’s Leadership Conference on Oct. 28 at The DeMatteis Center, where more than 170 colleagues representing various levels of management from all of the CHS entities gathered for case study presentations and a keynote address on patient safety and clinical improvement.

Hammerman joined Mercy Medical Center in 1994 and has progressively expanded her role over the years. This award recognized her for numerous achievements including the expansion of community educational lectures and employee Lunch n’Learn programs, preparation and follow-through with Certificate of Need Applications to the New York State Department of Health for approval of such projects as Mercy’s North Pavilion and the expansion of the Emergency Department and Express Care as well as grant writing and many other activities. The development of Mercy’s innovative outpatient Diabetes Self-Management Education program, annual National Cancer Survivors Day brunch and Teddy Bear Clinics for elementary school children, are all credited to Hammerman.

Previous recognition of her contribution to the important role that Mercy plays in addressing the health care needs of the community included her receipt in 2002 of the annual Sister Mary Nadine Casey, CIJ Award, which honors a member of the Mercy family who best personifies the values of Mercy Medical Center and the Congregation of the Infant Jesus, whose members founded the hospital nearly a century ago.

Outside of work, while Hammerman is involved in several not-for-profit organizations, she has been focusing particular attention on the Rockville Centre Youth Council. As its current chairwoman, she has worked to form partnerships between youth and adults in providing anti-drug and alcohol awareness programs, community service projects and social events held in a substance -free environment.