Each year, HCP members nominate candidates for HCP’s Annual Awards, which are voted on by the HCP Board of Directors. Winners are recognized for their many contributions to the home care industry and to HCP, and they will receive their awards on October 24 during the Annual Awards Luncheon at the HCP Annual Management Conference and Exhibition, which will be held at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale, New York. HCP congratulates all 2018 Award winners and thanks them for their dedication to HCP and the home care industry.
This year’s Annual Award winners are:
Founders’ Spirit Award – Sandra Lyons-Jackson, Companion Care of Rochester
Sandra Lyons-Jackson is passionate, dedicated and tenacious – the embodiment of the intrepid spirit of HCP’s founders. Sandy has strong beliefs about the advantages and philosophy of home and community-based care. Sandy comes to Albany every year on Advocacy Day, and she speaks from the heart when meeting with legislators and explaining the benefits of home care and its positive impact on clients. Sandy always willing to step in when asked to help in any cause for HCP or the home care industry. For a number of years, Sandy worked tirelessly to reinvigorate the Finger Lakes Chapter, and when those efforts were unsuccessful, she became an active and engaged member of the Western New York Chapter. Sandy truly represents the spirit of HCP’s founders and is well deserving of this Award.
Associate Member of the Year – Barbara Citarella, RBC Limited Healthcare & Management Consultants
Barbara Citarella is a longstanding HCP member who has actively supported the interests of HCP and the home care industry for many years. Barbara has in-depth knowledge of regulations and policies governing the home care industry. She works hard to make sense of and operationalize the numerous and constantly changing regulations and mandates, which she shares during presentations to ensure that HCP members are informed and compliant. She is a regular speaker at many HCP/CHC programs and events, and she has made herself available on short notice if needed. Barbara is a recognized expert on emergency preparedness at both the State and Federal level, and she actively participates in emergency preparedness policy making meetings to ensure the unique needs of home and community-based providers are incorporated into these policies. Barbara currently serves on the HCP Board of Directors as the Associate/Allied Representative, has consistently supported the HCP PAC and has been a sponsor at many HCP Conferences and other events. Barbara’s active support for HCP this year, and for many previous years, make her very deserving of this Award.
Edna A. Lauterbach Member of the Year Aisha Lucas, Fedcap Home Care
Aisha Lucas has demonstrated all of the values of the Edna A. Lauterbach Member of Year, which recognizes a member who has done an outstanding job in promoting the interests and objectives of HCP. Aisha has been an active, involved HCP member for many years, and for the past two years, she has served as the New York City Chapter President. She is passionate about the importance and value of home care and she has been a cheerleader for the home care industry and the New York City Chapter. Aisha has shown leadership in her responsiveness to members and new members of the Chapter; has developed informative and relevant agendas for Chapter meetings that have drawn large numbers of providers; held the first New York City Legislative Breakfast in many years; and she worked tirelessly to develop a full slate of meetings for New York City members to meet with at HCP’s Advocacy Day. Aisha leads by example and always keeps HCP and home care providers at the forefront in all of her efforts. She is a respected colleague and a true example of what an HCP member should be.
Richard Z. Steinhaus Award – Claudia Hammar, New York State Association of Health Care Providers
This award is presented in accordance of outstanding contributions to the home health care provider community by an individual. In addition to working for HCP for 12 years Claudia has served as HCP President since 2015. She has provided relentless support to the organization through industry changes and has been a champion in Albany on initiatives to improve or protect home and community-based care. Under her guidance, HCP has ushered in a new era of home care providers and the organization has risen to meet the challenges posed by provider members as they endure challenging times in health care. From HCP and the provider community, we thank her for her service.
Norma Recco Advocate of the Year Award – Nancy Geiger, Gurwin Home Care
The Norma Recco Award was established in 2011 by the HCP Long Island Chapter in memory of the late Norma Recco, founder of Recco Home Care Service (Massapequa) and a tireless advocate for the home care industry. This award is presented to an individual who emulates Norma’s passion, dedication and energy toward building awareness for the home care industry and who has made significant legislative and/or regulatory contributions toward advancing the best interests of home and community-based care. Nancy Geiger has served as a board member of her local HCP Chapter since 2012 and has over 20 years of experience in home care. Over the years, she has taken the time to meet with her local legislators to discuss the importance of providing quality home care services to those in need. She continues to be positive force for her colleagues in her dedication to policy issues and commitment to providing quality care.