​New London Hospital Awarded Imaging Designation

​New London — The Radiology ​Department at New London Hospital has been designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

NLH ​first received the designation in 2014 and ​remains the only hospital in New Hampshire and one of 296 facilities in the country to achieve the ​designation​, the hospital said in a news release.

The ​designation recognize​s​ best-quality imaging practices and diagnostic care​, includ​ing​ a comprehensive assessment of the entire medical imaging enterprise, including structure and outcomes.

The designation recognizes the professional staff, the technology and the policies and procedures the organization follows.

The designation is shared by a relatively small group of clinics and hospitals in the country “due to the enormous amount of time and resources it takes to meet the ACR’s standard,” Kris Eschbach, a radiologist at New London Hospital, said in a news release.

To receive the ​designation, facilities must be accredited by the ACR in all modalities they provide and in which the ACR offers an accreditation program. For NLH, the modalities include computed tomography, digital mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, ultrasound and breast ultrasound. Another requirement is to participate in two national radiology data registries to help facilities measure progress and document quality of service.

By participating in the registries, hospitals help to identify opportunities for improvement around important areas such as patient wait times.

The ACR, founded in 1924, has 36,000 members, including radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians.

Staff at Cedar Hill Continuing Care Receive State Awards

Windsor — Three staff members at Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community in Windsor were recognized in September by the Vermont Health Care Association, an organization that promotes quality care in long-term nursing facilities across the state.

Cathy Connors was given the Outstanding Residential Care LPN of the Year award. Connors, a licensed practical nurse, has more than 40 years experience with dementia care and has worked at Cedar Hill for six years. In addition to managing the Judith Brogren Memory Care Center at Cedar Hill, ​​she hosts an ​​Alzheimer​’​s support group and provides training for nursing assistants.

​J​oshua Martini was given the award for Dietary Aide of the Year. Martini has worked in the kitchen of Cedar Hill Health Care Center for 11 years, tracking food labeling, refrigerator logs, and deliveries, and maintaining a specific cleaning schedule for all equipment and all areas of the kitchen.

Liddy Merritt was recognized as the Skilled Nursing Facility Cook of the Year. She has been preparing breakfast and lunch at Cedar Hill Health Care Center for nine years.

She keeps tracks of residents’ dietary needs and their preferences.

— Staff reports