Local nursing facility 'leading with heart'

Sep. 9—On Monday afternoon, Madison Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a skilled nursing facility on Baker's Ridge Road, kicked off a new way to show its commitment to providing care with compassion by showcasing how its team is "leading with heart."

According to Activity Director Monica Barner, "leading with heart allows us to pay close attention to the great moments that are happening around us, creating a positive experience for our patients, residents and our teams."

Each week, the center will identify and recognize one team member who administrators believe leads with the heart based on six criteria — customer service, teamwork, sharing knowledge, patient experience, performance consistency and professional development.

Melinda Antonik, who has worked as a physical therapist at Madison since 2005, was the first employee honored with the award as the center celebrated in a big way with a big blue and gold-themed party — complete with last year's Backyard Brawl playing on the television, pepperoni rolls and all the best tailgate favorites.

Many of the residents have spent their lives as die-hard WVU fans.

Barner said the theme for the party was also based on a quote — "in the heart of Mountaineer Country sits Madison Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where the Mountaineers are celebrated but most of all our staff and residents are leading with heart."

Antonik was honored to be the first "Leading with Heart " recipient.

"It's very nice and very humbling that they picked one of us in physical therapy. We work hard but we're usually behind the scenes, " she said of the honor. "I love our residents, I love what I do."

Mid-way through the party, excitement grew as a familiar figure was sighted walking past the windows in the room — WVU Mountaineer Mascot Braden Adkins.

Residents and staff were all-smiles as Adkins spent some time talking about what it is like to be the Mountaineer, answering any questions they had, talking a little football and posing for photos.