Jeanne Caldwell Receives the Rural Health Hero of the Year Award
Jeanne Caldwell, case manager and service provider at the Northwest Pennsylvania Rural AIDS Alliance, was awarded the Rural Health Hero of the Year Award. The recognition comes from the Office of Rural Health, a federally and state funded program located at Pennsylvania State University. The award is given to an outstanding leader in the area of rural health who demonstrates commitment to the needs of the rural community, who works with other organizations to develop and expand programs that address important health issues, and who goes above and beyond the call of duty. “I don’t look like a hero, I don’t feel like a hero, and I don’t think of myself as a hero,” said Caldwell.
Caldwell was hired as the Northwest Pennsylvania Rural AIDS Alliance’s first case manager and service provider 12 years ago. Starting with nothing, including clients, she helped to build the agency, that currently serves 13 counties. “I didn’t come into this field to serve a noble cause, I just needed a job,” Caldwell admitted. “Something happened along the way. I fell into something that is right for me and that I have an affinity for. I can’t imagine doing anything else. The work we are doing and my interactions with HIV positive individuals have enriched my life beyond what I could have ever imagined. I care and want to make a difference.”
Leah Magagnotti Wins ANAC Frontline Nurse Distinguished Service Award
Leah Magagnotti, coordinator of clinical operations for the Northwest Pennsylvania AIDS Alliance, is the recipient of the first Annual Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) Frontline Nurse Distinguished Service Award. The ANAC Frontline Nurse Distinguished Service Award recognizes an ANAC member who is currently in a direct patient care position and is a role model in providing compassionate nursing care to individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
Clarion University President Joseph Grunenwald said, “This national level of recognition not only brings credit to Leah personally, but also to Clarion University and the Northwest AIDS Alliance. Leah’s dedication to patients and families battling AIDS is complemented by her strong record of service to the Alliance. Her efforts are making a difference in the lives of others.“ As coordinator of clinical operations, Magagnotti runs the HIV clinic. She is responsible for all clinic operations including strategic planning, physician and staff recruitment, policy development and implementation, training, quality management and oversight of all patient care. “I really enjoy being employed by Clarion University,” she said. “There are wonderful benefits, a great working environment and the university supports continuing education. I work with amazing people who are all positive and committed to caring for people with HIV no matter what it takes. We are always exploring better ways to improve what we are doing. I love the challenge of my job and I really enjoy taking care of people with HIV.”
Jeff Curtis is Awarded the National Quality Center's 2009 Quality of Care Award for Leadership in Quality
Jeff Curtis, executive director of the Northwest Pennsylvania Rural AIDS Alliance, was the recipient of the 2009 NQC Quality of Care Award for Leadership in Quality. Recognizing the numerous accomplishments of Jeff Curtis and the Northwest Alliance. The Northwest Alliance has demonstrated a commitment to delivering the highest quality clinical, medical case management and supportive services to the very large and rural region it serves.
The leadership and expertise of Jeff Curtis has been integral to the program’s transformation from a small agency facing many challenges in a very rural part of Pennsylvania to a high performing organization that is recognized both locally and nationally for its quality programs. The success of these programs has been documented in the Alliance’s very high scores in more than twenty performance measures, as well as through HRSA’s evaluation of the program. After a monitoring visit to the program, HRSA concluded that the Alliance’s “overall quality of HIV care was excellent,” and lauded many of its strengths in the areas of clinical care, case management, financial regulation, and administration.
The impact of Jeff Curtis’ leadership has been felt not only at the Northwest Alliance, but throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Mr. Curtis provided direct guidance to other HIV provider agencies at the state level as part of a Pennsylvania All-Parts Quality initiative that started well before the NQC began its operations. In his capacity of team leader of the Quality Management Committee of the Commonwealth’s HIV Integrated Planning Council, he has overseen several quality management initiatives including the development of a “Quality Management 101” manual and a “Learn As Do” manual, which combines training and technical assistance to help organizations carry out process improvement projects.
