About the Guest

Paula Pless

Director Safe Patient Handling and Movement- Kaleida Health

Paula has over 28 years of experience in Long-Term Care and over 5 years in Acute Care. She has developed, designed and implemented “Safe Patient Handling Programs” since 1996. She currently is working for the largest health care provider in Western NY, where she is implementing a SPHM program in all aspects of health care, which includes LTC, acute care and Kaleida's VNA Homecare Agency. She is GE Six Sigma trained, a CQI trainer and an Ergonomic Evaluation Specialist. She has assisted OSHA in developing the Nursing Home Ergonomic Guidelines and has authored several articles on the OSHA website concerning implementation of Zero-Lift programs and authored several articles in the HCPRO journal and recently in Caring for the Ages- “Understanding the Pivot Transfer”. She has provided expert witness testimony in the ergonomic case against, Beverly Enterprise.

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Susan Moran

CDM,CFPP

Started her career in food service at the age of 17, as a part time food service aide at Beechwood Residence in June of 1978.

In 1979, Susan was promoted to full time cold food prep aide and in 1982 and was promoted to day shift cook.

While working as a cook, I attended the Dietary Managers certification course at Erie Community College and in 1987 became a Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM,CFPP).

In 1988 she was promoted to Assistant Director of FNS and in 1996 promoted again to the Director of Food & Nutritional Services at Beechwood.

In August of 2006 Susan was promoted to Neighborhood Director for the Beechwood Homes.

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Jayme Smith

Caregiver

After living in Georgia for over 16years, I returned to WNY five years ago. I was a first and second level manager with a Fortune 500 Communication and Cable company. My sister gave me a crash course in health care, and I'm still in training learning care giving skills. Helen, trained me on giving insulin shots, checking my moms blood sugar level, preping her meds, to giving her a proper bath.

I will be enrolling into lifeskills classes with The American Red Cross soon.

Jayme's Story