March 2, 2017 — Sharon Regional announced today that it has recognized two employees for exceptional patient care and commitment to nursing.

Cameos of Caring Recipient Honored
Patricia J. LaRocca, a registered nurse in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Sharon Regional Medical Center received the 2016 Cameo of Caring award representing Sharon Regional Medical Center. The Cameos of Caring® Program & Awards honor exceptional bedside nurses who work at acute care hospitals. The program was established in 1999 in keeping with the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing’s commitment to the advancement and promotion of the nursing profession. Cameos of Caring® award recipients are recognized as role models within their facility and beyond. Each facility selects their award recipient. These individuals:

• Demonstrate a commitment to consistent, proactive clinical decision-making and excellence in nursing care
• Serve as an advocate for patients and their families
• Serve as a role model – encouraging and motivating other healthcare professionals

Patricia, a graduate of the Sharon Regional School of Nursing, joined Sharon Regional’s Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit System in 2000. Prior to working at Sharon Regional, she was a cardiovascular nurse in two area hospitals. In addition to her full-time position, Patricia is a certified Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) instructor and a volunteer first responder for the Clark Volunteer Fire Department. She was honored at the annual Cameos of Caring Awards Gala that took place on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. She and her husband, John, live in Clark. They have 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

Sharon Regional’s January Employee of the Month
Gregory Bookwalter, a paramedic in the Emergency Care Center at Sharon Regional Medical Center, was selected as the organization’s Employee of the Month for January 2017.

Gregory joined Sharon Regional’s Emergency Care Center in 1999 holding both part-time and full-time positions. Outside of his role as a paramedic in the Emergency department, Gregory received instructor certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), in addition to being an instructor for the hospital’s emergency response team, or HERT. Before becoming a full-time employee at Sharon Regional, Gregory worked as a paramedic for Gold Cross, Rural Metro, Superior, and NOGA ambulance services and as a flight paramedic with STAT Medevac. During his career, he was selected as the Paramedic of the Year and has held various other health care certifications.

Gregory was selected as Employee of the Month because of his concern for patients and their families in the emergency department and was recognized for being responsive to their needs. Gregory lives in West Middlesex, PA and has three daughters and a son.

About Sharon Regional Medical Center
Sharon Regional Medical Center has provided health care services to the region for more than 120 years. Mercer County’s largest hospital and healthcare system consists of a 220-bed Joint Commission accredited hospital, along with 19 satellite centers in Sharon, Hermitage, Mercer, and Hubbard, OH. Sharon Regional offers specialized services including Behavioral Health, Breast Care, Cancer Care, Diabetes, Emergency Care with specialized stroke and heart attack care, Mercer County’s only certified chest pain center, primary stroke center, open heart/angioplasty/ heart care institute, Sleep Medicine, Sports Medicine, Inpatient Rehabilitation, School of Nursing, School of Radiography, Women’s Center and Wound Recovery & Hyperbaric Medicine.