Samaritan honored Browns Mills resident Yvonne Rietschy, certified home health aide, with the Judy Taylor Award for Certified Home Health Aide Service Excellence at this year’s Winterfest celebration – an annual event recognizing employees and volunteers for their service milestones and their continued dedication to Samaritan’s mission of service.

“Samaritan’s strength is in the dedication of our health care team members, and no one demonstrates this more than Yvonne,” said Phillip W. Heath, president and chief executive officer, Samaritan. “She goes above and beyond every day for each of her patients, and has the heart and compassion to connect during even the most challenging of situations.”

Yvonne was selected for the award after receiving glowing praise from patients and their families, as well as colleagues. She has worked for Samaritan since 2007, both in the field and at The Samaritan Center at Voorhees. A true team player, Yvonne was also recognized for her contributions to Samaritan’s aromatherapy program. “Yvonne has started making aroma sachets to help our patients and families deal with anxiety and sadness,” Heath added.

Samaritan’s annual award for certified home health aide service excellence was named for Judy Taylor, who worked at Samaritan for 25 years, most of which was spent as a supervisor in the Certified Home Health Aide Department. Judy Taylor provided endless support to the aides, acknowledging the difficulty of their work, and the strong emotional connection they have with the patients and their families during the most difficult times.

For more information, visit www.samaritannj.org.

About Samaritan:

Samaritan is a not-for-profit, independent organization locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980 as one of the first hospices in the country. Samaritan is now one of the State’s leading providers of hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, at-home primary care, grief support and counseling, advanced illness care, education and advocacy. Samaritan serves people in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties who are coping with the stresses of aging, serious illness or grief wherever they call home. Samaritan also has two dedicated inpatient hospice centers in Voorhees and Mount Holly. Beyond the services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans, Samaritan annually provides nearly $1M in donor-funded non-reimbursed care for patients and families in the South Jersey region. A thrift shop in Westmont also supports Samaritan services and programs. Samaritan is accredited by The Joint Commission; a member of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation; and is a four-star hospice in the national We Honor Veterans program. For more information, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org.