Long Term Care Symposium Outstanding, Stephanie Allen Receives Long Term Care Achievement Award

Dr. John Potomski presents 28th Annual event

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The 28th Annual Brevard County Long Term Care Symposium, sponsored by the Brevard County Medical Directors Association, was held at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto, in Melbourne.

This is the fifth year that this event has been held during Space Coast Medicine Week. Dr. John Potomski, Jr., founder of this event, has been a medical provider and advocate for residents in Brevard County’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers as well as Assisted Living Facilities for over 34 years.

The purpose of this event has been to offer an educational dinner meeting for staff, from facilities throughout Brevard County. Dr. Potomski has always felt that educating staff would improve patient/resident care and it is free to all attendees.

This symposium has grown over the years in the number of attendees from 80 to almost 500 and the quality of the program has always exceeded the expectations of those in attendance.

This year’s event was supported by Collegium, with speaker Dr. Dan Canogne, presenting “Insights on Novel Technology in Pain Management with Abuse DeterrantExtended Release Opiods.”

Vitas Hospice presented “Soul Injury” by Deborah Grassman, CEO Upus Peace, and Joann Fisher ARNP, representative of BCMDA with a presentation on “Transitions of Care.”

There were 36 exhibitors representing pharmaceutical firms, healthcare companies, hospice and home health organizations, pharmacies, Assisted Living, as well as, hospitals that supported the symposium.

The symposium was organized by Jo Ann Fisher, MSN, FNP-BC, Executive Director of BCMDA, with the announcement of her retirement and the initiation of Jared Lewis as the New Executive Director of BCMDA.

The staff of CFP Brevard and Brevard Geriatric Assessment Services managed the registration process and supplied the CEU credit. During the registration and exhibit time, many of the attendees, exhibitors and speakers, were interviewed by meteorologist and Space Coast Daily correspondent Danny Treanor. These interviews were videotaped and broadcast on Facebook Live.

Danny Treanor Provides Keynote

The program opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. John Potomski. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard followed by a video presentation of God Bless the USA, by Lee Greenwood. Father Robert Bruckart, M.Div., Ph.D, Director of Health First Pastoral Care gave the invocation.

Dinner was served during the speaker presentations and the Keynote Address was given by Danny Treanor who offered both entertainment and education regarding his life experiences.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2017 Long Term Care Achievement Award to Stephanie Allen, LPN, who is currently an employee of Solaris for 18 years and is now semi-retired after working as a Long Term Care nurse for 51 years.

“Stephanie is a veteran nurse who has tirelessly served thousands of patients at Solaris Healthcare with compassion and grace,” said Shawn Corley, Administrator of Solaris Healthcare Merritt Island.

There was also a recognition of last years Long Term Care Achievement Award winner Linda West who was unable to attend last year. The evening closed with a drawing for many door prizes for those that attended.

Attendees were healthcare professionals, affiliated with Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities as well as Hospice and Home Health Care agencies in Brevard County.

They included medical directors, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, nursing directors, administrators, therapists, dieticians, social workers and many other community healthcare-related professionals.

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