Jameson Junior Guild Officers Attend PAHA Spring Conference

June 25, 2009 - Recently, five members of the Jameson Junior Guild were among the more than 140 auxilians who attended the 2009 Spring Conference and 59^th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries (PAHA) May 12-14 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania .  Marge Weyrick, president; Eleanor Boyles, vice president; Thelma Turner, Hostess Shop chairman; Ruth Ray, past Guild and PAHA president and Diana Whittaker, NW Region PAHA president and conference sponsorship and evaluator chairman all attended the event.

The conference, “Believe It and Achieve It,” featured speakers and educational workshops geared to providing members of hospital auxiliaries the material needed to best serve their hospitals and stay current with today’s changing healthcare environment.

Keynote speaker, Charles “Boo” Hagerty, Hamot Medical Center Erie, Pennsylvania, provided information on “The Volunteer Role in the Patient Experience,”  Paula A. Bussard, senior vice president, policy and regulatory services of the Hospital & Health System Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), brought attendees up to date on state and federal issues and trends impacting the delivery of healthcare in Pennsylvania.  “The Hat Lady,” Barbara Smith, discussed how, no matter what your job description, you must learn how to “wear many hats.”

Workshops taught members how to ensure the safety of patients in hospitals. A gift shop panel shared knowledge and experience on how to set and achieve goals. An attorney addressed changes and challenges in the healthcare delivery system. A panel of healthcare administrators demonstrated ways in which auxiliaries can relate to their hospital and ways were discussed on how to “Kiss Stress Goodbye.”   

PAHA’s 60^th Annual Meeting and Conference will be held next year, May 11-13, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East.