BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro Memorial Hospital recently presented the 2017 Employee of the Year Award to Brian Patno, Certified Medical Assistant for Just So Pediatrics and a member of the hospital's Community Health Team.
The annual award is a closely guarded secret until the winner is announced at the annual Ice Cream Social held during Hospital Week. Steven R. Gordon, president and CEO of BMH, presented Patno with his award, citing Patno's commitment to local healthcare.
“Brian has worked at Just So Pediatric since 2014, coming to BMH as a paramedic from Rescue Inc. after a tenure of 23 years,” Gordon said in a news release. “He was looking for a change and wanted to make a difference in the lives of children.”
Patno is also car seat technician and instituted a car seat installation program at Just So Pediatrics, which is open to the community.
Gordon noted Patno's impact on local families: “There have been instances where he has supplied and installed car seats at a moment's notice to parents in the Birthing Center so they could safely bring their child home. You'll often find Brian outside the pediatrics practice in the parking lot installing car seats on sunny, rainy, and even snowy days.”
Patno's work extends beyond the hospital and into the community, Gordon said: “He spends time with children and their families developing plans of care so that they can work on goals to improve their health and well-being. The Coalition Coordinator for Windham County SAFE Kids, Patno also teaches child safety to the New Moms and Centering Pregnancy groups at the hospital. In addition, he supplies and fits helmets for the youth in our community.”
Nominated by his colleagues, Patno was praised for his compassion and a sense of humor that allows him to quickly establish a rapport with new parents and make them feel comfortable in the healthcare setting.
An umpire for the Brattleboro Little League, Patno lives in Guilford with his wife Lynn and two sons, Taylor and Kyle.