ED Nursing Staff Receive Emergency Services Award from MADD

The nursing staff from Westerly Hospital’s Emergency Department was recently honored with the 2016 Emergency Services Award from the Rhode Island Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (RIMADD). The award was presented at the annual Law Enforcement Recognition Breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

The Emergency Services Award award honors local professionals and agencies who have shown outstanding dedication in the areas of DUI enforcement, prosecution, victim services, legislation, emergency services and education in effort to prevent drunk and drugged driving, serve victims and prevent underage drinking. Honorees were selected using a nomination process reviewed by a volunteer nomination committee.

Said Chris Lehrach, MD, MBA, President, L+M Medical Group, who also works as a physician in Westerly Hospital’s Emergency Department, “Westerly Hospital’s nursing staff is comprised of fearless, hard-working healthcare professionals who are resourceful, experienced, collaborative, flexible, and are strident advocates for their patients. They work nights, weekends and holidays often in difficult conditions to provide consistently compassionate, high-quality and – sometimes – even life-saving care for their patients. They richly deserve this award.”

Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH), part of Yale New Haven Health, is a nationally recognized, 1,541-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving as the primary teaching hospital for the Yale School of Medicine (YSM). Founded as the fourth voluntary hospital in the U.S. in 1826, today, YNHH has two New Haven-based campuses, and also includes Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital. YNHH has received Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. YNHH has a combined medical staff of about 4,500 university and community physicians practicing in more than 100 specialties. www.ynhh.org