ST. MARYS — Leadership Elk and Cameron participants recently held their health and human services session.
Organizers said the session began at Penn Highlands Elk with Chief Operating Officer and Interim President Mark Norman speaking to the participants about the future of the hospital. Norman explained the difficulties of rural healthcare and the long process of hiring or recruiting employees to the area.
Following Norman’s presentation, Leadership Elk and Cameron alumni and hospital employee Jennifer Grotzinger spoke to the participants about the hospital’s imaging center and the award that it had received.
Meanwhile, Tom Tomaski, Robert Sorg and Rodney Brennen from the St. Marys Area Ambulance gave a presentation on the advancements in equipment and the high costs that are associated with them.
They talked to the group about the importance of subscriptions and ways the residents could help the ambulance crew get to the patient faster. The participants were then given a tour of the facility before heading to Pinecrest Manor.
At Pinecrest Manor, Nursing Administrator Megan Bolden gave participants a tour of the facility and explained all the services and activities that are available to the residents there. The participants were led to the rehabilitation center that is attached to Pinecrest Manor, where Supervisor of Rehabilitation and Occupational Health Becky Piccolo lead the group on a tour of the center and talked about the different treatments and therapies the center offers patients.
The last part of the day was held at the St. Marys Police Department, where the Elk County District Attorney Shawn McMahon provided the participants with a basic sentencing matrix and demonstrated how it was used in various situations.
Sheriff Todd Caltagarone, Elk County Detective Gregg McManus, Chief of Police Tom Nicklas, Officer Anthony Pistner, Officer Mike Shaffer and K-9 “Nando” gave a very informative presentation on drugs: what they look like, how they impact a person’s body, how they are used, and how they are trying to fight the ongoing problems. The participants were also given a demonstration on “Nando’s” ability to communicate and work with his partner in detecting and finding drugs.
