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Memorial nurses, Independent Health president to be honored at 2013 Premier

by jmaloni
Tue, Oct 16th 2012 02:10 pm

Nurses from Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and Dr. Michael Cropp, president and CEO of Independent Health, will be honored for their dedication to improving the health of the community at The Premier 2013, Memorial's annual dinner and entertainment gala.

The announcement was made was made by medical center President and CEO Joseph A. Ruffolo and Ann Marie Tucker, vice president for foundation and community relations.

"These honorees exemplify the best of health care in our community," Ruffolo said.

Memorial and the Schoellkopf Health Center, its adjacent skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, employ nearly 300 nurses.

"These dedicated professionals provide compassionate care every day," said Ruffolo, who added that Memorial is renowned for the lifelong commitment many of its nurses have made to serving patients in Niagara Falls. "We have an unbelievable number of long-tenured nurses, some with over 40 years of service, who have dedicated their entire lives to caring for our patients."

"The nursing staff is a critical component of the health care team; their contribution is immeasurable," said Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Joanne Krolewski, R.N., B.S.N. "Our nurses have responded to the numerous changes and challenges in both technology and care delivery with positive energy and enthusiasm."

Krolewski noted that Memorial's nurses also provide thousands of hours of health and wellness instruction, including health screenings, throughout the community each year.

Cropp is president and CEO at Independent Health. Under his leadership, the organization delivers products and services that improve the health of almost 375,000 customers and has been consistently recognized nationally for excellence in quality, service and innovation.

Cropp has a long and distinguished career in public health service. He was an associate medical director and family physician for three managed care organizations and also served as medical director for the former Millard Fillmore Health System. He joined Independent Health in 1996 as executive vice president and chief medical officer and was appointed president and CEO in 2004.

He has established several community initiatives to improve access, quality and affordability of health care. He is the founding chairman of the P2 Collaborative of Western New York and founding chairman of Western New York Clinical Information Exchange (WYNCIE doing business as HEALTHeLINK), a consortium of multiple community stakeholders working to provide electronic access to health information across the entire community.

"Dr. Cropp has worked tirelessly not only to improve access to care, but with an eye toward continuously improving the health status of residents in our region in a most cost effective manner," Ruffolo said.

"It is an honor to be recognized by Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center," Cropp said. "Independent Health is proud to collaborate with an organization that shares the same mission to improve the health and wellness of Western New York. We must all continue to promote healthy living and find ways to engage the community to create a culture of health in our region."

The Premier will be held Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, 310 Fourth St., Niagara Falls. Three-time Grammy Award winning artist Jon Secada is the headline entertainment. Proceeds from the event will benefit Memorial's cardiac and stroke care services.

Individual tickets are $225. For information and sponsorship opportunities, call 716-278-4570 or visit http://www.nfmmc.org/ThePremier.

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