WORCESTER, MA. July 21, 2010. Hospital staffs are normally a very tight knit group of people who work very closely together and cover for each other when needed. The Anesthesiology Department of St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, MA is one such organization that went above and beyond for one of their staff members. Army Reserve Captain (CPT) and Nurse Anesthetist J.P. Bonneau recently returned from a deployment and recommended his boss and the department for two awards; The Patriot and The Above and Beyond Award.   

Prior to his mobilization, Chief Nurse Anesthetist Tim Hasting arranged the various schedules so that CPT Bonneau and his fiancée, also a nurse anesthetist at the hospital, could have a week off together before his deployment. Mr. Hasting also arranged and paid for a catered going away breakfast banquet for the entire staff in Bonneau's honor. While he was gone the anesthesiology staff displayed a great deal of support and concern for both he and his fiancée, often taking her to dinner and the movies in his absence.   

St. Vincent's Hospital went further and made up the difference in pay for the first three months of deployment. CPT Bonneau said that without this assistance, he would have taken a significant cut in pay and experienced financial difficulties. "There is no question that the support of my employer and fellow anesthesia staff allowed me to better focus on my mission while deployed. It's great to be able to recognize the hospital, the department and my co-workers for their support of my mission and the military." MAESGR's Tony Ingrisano went to St. Vincent's today and presented the Patriot Award to Mr. Hastings for his understanding and the Above and Beyond Award to the department. 

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the USERRA law of 1994 and resolving conflicts through mediation. The MA Field Office has more than 40 volunteers dedicated to helping every "Citizen Soldier". On hand representing MAESGR was Volunteer and Central Area Chair Mr. Tony Ingrisano.

 

       

Left to Right: Chief Nurse Anesthetist Tim Hasting and MAESGR Central Area Chair Mr. Tony Ingrisano

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If you would like nominate your Employer for an award, call the MA Committee for ESGR at 508-233-7249 or go to www.esgr.mil.