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Allison Kenty
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BIDDEFORD, Maine – Stacy Merrill has been named Southern Maine Health Care’s 2020 Caregiver of the Year. Merrill is a valuable member of the SMHC team and emanates SMHC’s core values of patient centered, respect, integrity, excellence, ownership and innovation.
Merrill has been with the organization for 3 years. As the Manager of Client Relations, she handles the resolution of all patient concerns that may not be resolved at a customer service level. She partners with the physician practices, risk management, billing and coding to identify the source of the patient’s concern and helps to resolve those concerns. Merrill is dedicated to finding solutions for patients to receive the care they need regardless of their insurance or benefits plans, working to eliminate any barriers that patients may face.
“Many times patients start out extremely frustrated and by the time the call is completed, they are laughing and joking with Stacy,” said Sherry Van Joolen, Director of Client Relations & Physician Revenue Integrity, Southern Maine Health Care, “She just has such a way of putting patients at ease.”
“Stacy’s unwavering dedication ensures that our community members have the basic resources they need, that are essential, but often taken for granted – access to health care, medications, food, shelter,” added SMHC President, Nate Howell. “Stacy’s continued exceptional efforts demonstrates her concern for the welfare for our patients and her commitment to our values. We’re lucky to have Stacy as part of the SMHC family and she is very deserving of this honor.”
The Caregiver of the Year award is chosen based upon patient comments and peer recommendations throughout the organization. The recipient must meet the following criteria: exemplify extraordinary commitment to patients on a daily basis; show compassion, empathy and respect in the delivery of care to patients and their families; acknowledge and meet the unique physical, emotional and practical needs of patients and their families and; promote an environment of cooperation and collaboration in which the expertise and experience of all healthcare professionals are available to patients.
About Southern Maine Health Care
Southern Maine Health Care (SMHC) is an award-winning health care organization that includes a full service, acute care medical center in Biddeford and a medical center in Sanford with York County’s only inpatient behavioral health unit. Both medical centers offer 24/7 Emergency care, surgical and diagnostic services. SMHC offers primary care, specialty care, outpatient diagnostic and therapy services across York County and Walk-In Care centers in Kennebunk, Saco, Sanford and Waterboro. SMHC is Joint Commission accredited and is part of the MaineHealth system, a growing family of health care services in northern New England with a non-profit mission dedicated to “improving the health of our patients and communities by providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers, and researching better ways to provide care.” To learn more, visit smhc.org.