Trinity Health Of New England Colleagues Recognized as Healthcare Heroes

The Hartford Business Journal has selected five Connecticut-based colleagues for recognition as Healthcare Heroes, awards that identify outstanding leaders in the healthcare industry who are the epitome of a “hero.” The five recipients are Jose Arias-Camison, M.D., Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Saint Francis Hospital; Edna N. Rodríguez, LP-PsyD, Director of Behavioral Health, Johnson Memorial Hospital and Mercy Medical Center; Robin Cracco, RN, MSN, Clinical Leader MS/Infusion Center, Saint Mary’s Hospital; and Trinity Health Of New England Mobile Healthcare’s Paramedic Jasmine Romero and EMT Alex Haeseler.

In his role at Saint Francis, Dr. Arias-Camison is often called upon to provide lifesaving care to premature infants. Earlier this year, he faced what was perhaps the biggest challenge of his career when Neyshaliz Angueira, a young Waterbury woman, went into labor during her 22nd week of pregnancy and gave birth to a 12.4-ounce, 11-inch baby girl – the smallest baby ever born at Saint Francis to survive.

With translucent skin, eyes that were fused shut, and underdeveloped lungs, tiny Zahraliz Francis Angueira was carefully monitored by Dr. Arias-Camison and the NICU team for the next 128 days, as her condition slowly improved and she grew to 7 pounds, 5 ounces. On June 29, just two days after her original due date, she was released from the hospital. Colleagues from around the hospital gathered in the main lobby, cheering for the “miracle baby” as Neyshaliz and Dr. Arias-Camison brought Zahraliz to the family’s vehicle for their ride home.

As Director of Behavioral Health for the Springfield Market, Dr. Rodríguez has positively impacted thousands of patients and their families throughout the region. Most recently, she was instrumental in the creation of the Lillian “Dolly” Santilli Geriatric Wellness Pavilion at Johnson, marking a significant expansion of the hospital’s behavioral health commitment. Dr. Rodríguez became a champion of the project after a needs assessment determined that the aging population of the Stafford area is expected to increase by 16-percent over the next five years, indicating that the need for geriatric behavioral health services was also on the rise.

Under Dr. Rodríguez’s direction, Johnson’s Geriatric Wellness Unit has filled the need for these vital services. Since opening a year ago, providers in the unit have treated more than 100 patients with complex care needs that typically require a two-to-three-week hospital stay. Additionally, the unit not only serves this vulnerable patient population, but it also provides respite for their loved ones who want the best possible care for their seniors. Perhaps most importantly, the demand for care provided at the Geriatric Wellness Unit – psychiatric stabilization, nursing care, and specialized social services – is on the rise as the facility cares for patients from the local community, across the state, and even Massachusetts.

A nurse at Saint Mary’s Hospital for 47 years, Cracco has dedicated her life to helping others. Recognized as a patient advocate her entire nursing career, Cracco’s top priority is always the health and safety of her patients. Although she now serves as the clinical nurse leader in the Outpatient Infusion/Multiple Sclerosis Center at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Cracco has held several nursing leadership roles over the years, including nurse navigator in the emergency department. In this role, Cracco provided support and guidance to patients after they were discharged from the hospital and helped them to understand both their medical conditions and recommended treatment – a service that was particularly important for patients who faced new or complex diagnoses such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer. This role also gave her valuable insight as a member of the steering committee for the Greater Waterbury Health Partnership, the region’s first health partnership of clinical and community providers. The organization works to provide access to culturally sensitive and evidence-based health information for the region and to coordinate local health care services to improve overall community health.

Cracco’s first love is patient care, and she consistently demonstrates that small acts of kindness do make a difference. She can often be found sitting at the bedsides of patients in the hospital or inpatient hospice unit, visiting patients at home to bring them the prescription medications they require (and walkers and canes if they are needed), or providing clothing and food for patients in need. Patient by patient, Cracco continues to improve the quality of life for others in our community.

Trinity Health Of New England Mobile Healthcare Paramedic Jasmine Romero and EMT Alex Haeseler were returning from a call when they were the first on the scene of a gas tanker truck rollover accident in Manchester. Romero and Haeseler could see that the tanker truck, carrying 8,300 gallons of gasoline with the fuel equivalent of more than 240 tons of dynamite, was fully engulfed in flames and posed an immediate danger to those involved in and around the crash. Without hesitation, the pair jumped into action.

Manchester Fire Department’s Battalion Chief credited Romero and Haeseler for being immensely helpful to his team and other the first responders called to the scene as they quickly identified the victims of the crash who had been able to escape their vehicles, pulled them aside, and began to treat them and care for their injuries, all while the intense fire from the tanker burned on. By the time the fire department arrived, the tanker fire had already exploded once, and crews were forced to prepare for all scenarios and how to best manage the flames. By the end of the event, the victims of the crash suffered only minor injuries, due in large part to the brave efforts of Romero and Haeseler who put the safety of the victims and the community first, above their own.

The Hartford Business Journal will honor these five Trinity Health Of New England colleagues, along with other Healthcare Heroes award recipients on December 14 at the Aqua Turf Club.