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WMCHC Quality Director Receives Rural Health Leader Award
(Honesdale, PA, November 20, 2022)… Norma Nocilla, BSHA, LPN, CPHQ, director of clinical operations and quality at Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers (WMCHC), received the 2022 Community Rural Health Leader of the Year Award on November 17th which is recognized as National Rural Health Day. The award was presented by Lisa Davis, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) at Wayne Memorial Hospital, WMCHC’s clinical affiliate in Honesdale, PA.
Among those present were members of the WMCHC Administrative Team along with nominator Kyle Davis, outreach and enrollment coordinator, who after having worked under Nocilla’s leadership couldn’t think of a better person to receive the prestigious honor.
Ms. Davis, while reading from the nomination, recognized Nocilla’s extensive background in healthcare leadership, quality and performance improvement. Through her various roles across her career, Nocilla gained insight into her own community’s needs as well as those on a state and national level. Specifically cited was Nocilla’s work with WMCHC “overseeing the clinical integration of four medical practice groups across eight sites with 17 providers” which ultimately led to WMCHC’s Patient Center Home Recognition for primary care – a healthcare model that places patients at the center of care and builds meaningful relationships between patients and clinical teams.
WMCHC Executive Director Frederick Jackson, who attended virtually, credited Nocilla for “professionalizing” WMCHC’s quality program through her efforts. He expressed gratitude for her dedication during her tenure with the community health centers.
“It’s great to be awarded for something I love doing,” stated Nocilla upon receiving the award “especially for a population that is so deserving and in need of quality care.”
Shortly following the presentation at the hospital, Ms. Davis, Nocilla and representatives of Wayne Memorial Hospital and WMCHC – along with other area rural health providers visited the Wayne County Court House as Wayne County Commissioners issued a proclamation declaring November 17th, as National Rural Health Day. The commissioners acknowledged the many accomplishments of Wayne Memorial as well as the Wright Center, the Himalayan Institute and the Wayne County Department of Aging in providing healthcare to the residents in rural Northeast Pennsylvania.
Both events took place during 2022 Rural Health Week in Pennsylvania, November 14 – 18, a time set aside to celebrate “The Power of Rural” by honoring rural American residents, healthcare providers and communities.
Photo – Shown during Community Rural Health Leader Award presentation are, left to right: Carol Kneier, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES, community health manager, Wayne Memorial Hospital; Michelle Corrigan, RN, clinical care coordinator/risk manager, WMCHC; James Pettinato, BSN, MHSA, CCRN-K, chief executive officer, Wayne Memorial Hospital; Kara Poremba, RN practice manager, Women’s Health Center; Robert Fortuner, finance director, WMCHC; Lisa Davis; Norma Nocilla; Wynter Newman, administrator director; WMCHC; Miranda Green, human resource director, WMCHC; Erica Brown, development manager, WMCHC and Kyle Davis.
