PUTNAM — Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) will require all members of its workforce receive at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 1 as a condition of employment unless they are granted a medical exemption or deferral, or an approved religious exemption. The mandate applies to health system employees, medical staff, volunteers, students, contractors and vendors.
The requirement aligns with the Connecticut Hospital Association’s (CHA) statewide commitment by Connecticut’s hospitals, announced in June, endorsing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for hospital and health system employees and clinical staff.
“By requiring the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment, DKH joins health systems and associations across the country in supporting vaccination for health care workers in an effort to continue protecting our patients, staff, and communities from this dangerous disease,” said Kyle Kramer, chief executive officer, Day Kimball Healthcare. “Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases are on the rise again due to the threat of variants, and many communities continue to have low vaccination rates.”
He added: “In keeping with our mission to improve the health and wellbeing of our community by providing the best medical care, and our commitment to providing safe care for patients and a safe work environment for employees, the decision to require vaccinations in our workforce was thoughtfully made. The available COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and proven to be the best way to prevent transmission, hospitalizations, and deaths from the virus.”
Individuals may request a COVID-19 vaccination exemption or deferral (to a later date) for a medical reason or sincerely held religious/spiritual belief. Those seeking a medical or religious exemption or deferment must request one by Sept. 30. Failure to comply with DKH’s vaccine policy will result in that individual not being allowed to work at DKH.
“As a High Reliability Organization (HRO), DKH is committed to providing high-quality, safe care to our patients and a safe workplace to our health system employees,” said John Graham, chief medical officer and vice president medical affairs and quality, Day Kimball Healthcare. “83 percent of our health system employees, including 100 percent of our physicians, have voluntarily received vaccinations already. Requiring vaccination for our employees is critical to maintaining a safe care environment. We continually educate staff by sharing vaccine resources and giving the opportunity to directly ask leaders and clinicians questions regarding vaccine research, safety and efficacy.”
Access to the vaccine remains available for DKH staff at no cost through DKH Employee Health and at any of its Day Kimball Medical Group adult and pediatric primary care practices.
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccination distribution plans in Connecticut, call 2-1-1, the CT State Hotline for information or visit ct.gov/covidvaccine. Local information is available on the Northeast District Department of Health website at nddh.org. For more information about Day Kimball Healthcare’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout visit daykimball.org/coronavirus.
Day Kimball Healthcare is a nonprofit community healthcare system composed of Day Kimball Hospital, Day Kimball Medical Group, Day Kimball Healthcare at Home, and healthcare centers in Danielson, Dayville, Plainfield, and Putnam. Its service area includes Northeast Connecticut as well as nearby Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. Day Kimball Healthcare’s comprehensive network employs more than 1,000 staff including nearly 300 associated, highly skilled physicians, surgeons and specialists.
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Centaurs
boys’ prep
soccer team
opens with win
The only thing Woodstock Academy boys’ prep soccer coach Joe Cherackal was hopeful for was a good showing in the season opener.
A win or a loss, outside of how it would affect his player’s mentality, really didn’t matter.
The Centaurs played their first-ever friendly in Rhode Island recently against the MLS New England Revolution U-17 Next team and brought home a 3-2 victory.
“We went there with the hope of playing well enough so that they would play us again,” Cherackal said.
They accomplished that goal.
The Centaurs found themselves a new opponent as they will play again this fall and two more times in the spring.
The team also proved, to the Revolution and themselves, that it was competitive.
“We have players that are of that caliber,” Cherackal said.
The Revolution may even be interested in a couple of the Centaurs players after they finish their year.
“I think we have some more players who fit in that room at the next level,” Cherackal said. “This is all about the platform. Did you perform on that day?”
The Centaurs scored in the first 10 minutes of the match when Niall O’Brien headed in a corner from Marc Ballart Gisbert.
The 1-0 lead remained until early in the second half when Gisbert dribbled the ball down the left flank and cut it back to Jorge Angeles. Angeles’ shot was deflected but the ball soon found its way back to his foot and he wasn’t about to allow the same fate to befall his next shot as he scored 10 minutes into the second half.
Zach Lorenz scored the final goal with about 15 minutes to play.
Cherackal substituted liberally after that to showcase more of his players and the switching led to a pair of Revolution goals.
Playing the match, however, was better than watching it on film.
“We had an intense practice two days after the game and on the following day, sat down to watch the game. None of the kids wanted to watch. I told them video doesn’t lie,” Cherackal said.
While the result, both on the scoreboard and in accomplishing the primary task, was positive, getting to it was not as pleasant.
“I asked them if they understood why I thought we could play better and that we left a lot on the table. We were desperately defending and the game was not played on our terms in the first half. In the second half, we did that better and it was important for them to see that we could play at that level,” Cherackal said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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Solemn Remembrance
Saturday, September 11 marks the 20th anniversary of the attack on the United States. This banner is on a picket fence in Pomfret. More photos on page 4. Linda Lemmon photo.
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PSA names
Hall of Fame
Class of '21
Putnam Science Academy announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2021, led by current Detroit Pistons shooting guard Hamidou Diallo. Diallo is one of eight members of the incoming class, which also features former players Jaheam Cornwall and Mamadou Diarra, coaches Josh Scraba and Ken Chauvin, contributors Aaron Robinson and Andrew Robinson, and the 2015-16 team that went to the National Prep Championship Final Four.
“This is an exciting event for us,” said PSA Dean of Athletics Tom Espinosa. “When I called the guys – Hami, Jaheam, the Robinsons, Mamadou – all of them were saying ‘That’s so cool, what an honor.’ Those were fun calls to make.
“When you think about it, how many Halls of Fame can you really make? Being selected is a real honor. We’re proud of these guys and what they’ve meant to our school over the years.”
Said Aaron Robinson: “I am extremely blessed and humbled to a part of this Hall of Fame class. Putnam was truly one of the most magical experiences of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Added Andrew Robinson: “I’m honored to be going in with my brothers who I shared the floor with (Diallo, Diarra, and his brother). PSA will always be my family and now we share something that can never be taken away.”
Diallo played two-and-a-half seasons at PSA, leaving for the University of Kentucky after the first half of the 2016-17 season with his name all over the school’s record books. In addition to appearing in both the Elite 8 and Final Four and posting a 77-15 record, Diallo is second all-time in points scored with 1,415 (he was in first place when he left) and games played (91), fourth in rebounds (456) and steals (122), sixth in made 3-pointers (95), and ninth in scoring average (16.3). He also made a school-record 17 free throws in one game, and is tops in single-season scoring with 651 points.
Cornwall played the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons at PSA before heading to Gardner-Webb University. One of coach Espinosa’s top leaders and winners, Cornwall was the point guard on back-to-back Final Four teams and went 71-11. He is second all-time in assists (381) and 3-pointers made (139), and sixth all-time in scoring (783), steals (89), and games played (82). He also holds the school’s single-game record with nine 3-pointers.
Diarra played two-and-a-half seasons (half of 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16) before moving on to UConn. While at PSA, he was part of three teams that finished eighth, fifth, and fourth in the national rankings while playing in three National Tournaments (with one Final Four and one Elite 8 appearance). Part of three league championship teams, Diarra is PSA’s all-time leading rebounder (647), and is second in career blocks (162) and games played (99), and fifth in career points (953).
All three played key roles on the 2015-16 team that went 37-4 and finished ranked No. 4 in the country on its way to a Northeast Prep title and appearance in the National Prep Championship Final Four. Nine of the 17 members of that team went on to play Division I basketball, while two more played D-II, four played D-III, and two played at the Junior College level. Three members are currently playing professionally.
Scraba has been an integral part of PSA’s rise to national power. Currently in his 12th season as the associate head coach of the Prep Team and Espinosa’s right-hand man, he has been part of 350 wins and two national championship teams. The team’s lead recruiter, he has landed more than 50 future Division I players at PSA.
Chauvin has been with Putnam Science Academy for seven years as its sports psychologist. He works closely with each team and individual student-athlete. In addition to working with them to advance a proper mindset, Chauvin is also the school’s nutritionist and sleep coach, and as such helps student-athletes develop proper lifelong eating and sleeping habits.
The Robinson twins, Aaron and Andrew, were selected as contributors for the ongoing role they play in expanding the PSA brand. They played at the school in 2014-15 and have maintained ties ever since. The two use their platforms as professional players and on social media to promote PSA. The creators and founders of All Facts Media, they also help Espinosa and Scraba with leads for possible recruits and also by calling recruits to answer their questions from a player’s perspective.
Former players must be at least three years removed from PSA to be eligible as a nominee. The school’s Hall of Fame committee is responsible for voting. This is PSA’s second Hall of Fame class, with induction ceremonies scheduled for Spring 2022. The first class, inducted in 2018, featured players Rundell Mauge, Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith, Enes Ulukaya, and Ta’Quan Zimmerman; the 2013-14 team; contributor Ronald Coderre; super fan Bryan Sailor; and Espinosa.
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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