Centers Health Care Returns To the Venetian For Their Massive Retreat

Centers Health Care, one of the largest networks of nursing homes and rehabilitation centers in the northeast, returned to the Venetian on River Road in Garfield, New Jersey, for the first time since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic began. It was a welcoming site as the theme for 2023 was "legacy" as they honored various employees who have made a name for themselves by demonstrating their love and care for the residents they serve. Equally, Centers Health Care leadership also took the opportunity to educate employees about "how one becomes a legacy in the company" and "what is the model person who demonstrates legacy status"?

Mr. Kenny Rozenberg, the always charismatic, high-spirited and energized company CEO, took the time to salute all of the employees for "making it through the darkest years that ever took place in the healthcare industry ". He then made a brief heartfelt speech talking about how proud he was of both his clinical and non-clinical staff who worked tirelessly through those exhausting months to care for the residents and their fellow colleagues. Mr. Rozenberg was relieved to say that the pandemic is "now in our rearview mirror of where we are today and we are winners".

Following his speech, Mr. Rozenberg congratulated two special employees who stood out above the rest recently, Floating Director of Nursing Andrew Ungoco and Schenectady Center Administrator Marty Deslauriers. Mr. Ungoco played a key role in his work by pulling both Buffalo Center and Rochester Center out of special focus status. Mr. Deslauriers played a major role in getting his facility to be American Heart Association certified for cardiac care.

After Kenny Rozenberg, Long Island Attorney Adam Ostreicher took the podium to talk about the latest with compliance and ethics in 2023. Mr. Ostreicher focused on new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) schizophrenia and antipsychotic audits where there is now new oversight and audits of inappropriate antipsychotic usage. Skilled nursing facilities feel strongly that these audits will drive down star ratings, all due to diagnosed patients with schizophrenia and there is no proper assessment or documentation.

Following the compliance and ethics discussion, Kenny then introduced a special guest by the name of Steven Littlehale, the Chief Innovation Officer of Zimmet Healthcare Services Group, who's also a dynamic internationally known author and speaker, covering a broad range of healthcare and post-acute care topics. Mr. Littlehale, who comes from a nursing background, canceled another gig just to speak at this Centers Health Care New Jersey retreat and the audience was in for a treat. From discussing what makes an individual stand out as a leader who helps to contribute to a facility's five-star success, to combatting CMS deficiencies and important key measures, happily, Mr. Littlehale asked the audience how long they have been in the post-acute care industry and was astonished and surprised to learn that some have spent more than 40 years dedicated to the field. Mr. Littlehale also spoke on legacies.

"People who shaped you and your life from long ago, family, people who you looked up to, created your legacy," said Littlehale.

Later, company Vice-Presidents Aharon Lantzitsky and Nate Goldman further the discussion about how one becomes a legacy by emphasizing leadership and lasting commitment to the facility as a whole and the strong dedication to the residents and their families.

Chief Nursing Officer Heidi Hendrix spoke about the definition of what a legacy is by using Sea Biscuit, a champion thoroughbred racehorse from the 1930s and 40s whose legacy was beating the triple crown winner War Admiral by four lengths in 1937 at Pimlico. Following Ms. Hendrix was Bonnie Chustz, Centers’ Corporate Director of Education and Professional Development, who spoke about ways of reducing the burden on nursing through areas of development and education through various initiatives that she has implemented at the company, such as step-up classes and training. Here nurses don’t have to stay stagnant but can move up in rankings and hopefully create a future legacy.

The retreat also included many humorous moments including an acting skit about a day in a nursing home that resembled the NBC hospital sitcom "Scrubs" from the 90s. Mr. Rozenberg also lead a few rounds of "Family Feud" with employees from the audience and a magician also added to the fun of the afternoon. Towards the conclusion of the announcement, the company announced the Director of Nursing of the Year award to Ms. Cheryll East at Steuben Center in Bath, New York, for going above and beyond her duties in order to lead a committed team of nurses and being hands-on with her residents. Perhaps Ms. East will hold a distinguished legacy in the future.