A Week in Business

A Week in Business
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Two Earn Certification

BERLINThe National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) announced that Darlene Jameson, MPH, RD, LDN, and Linda Keplinger, RN, ABOC, achieved Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE®) status by successfully completing the Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators.

Candidates must meet rigorous eligibility requirements to be able to take the examination. Achieving certification status demonstrates to people with diabetes that the health care professional possesses distinct and specialized knowledge, thereby promoting quality of care for people with diabetes. Currently, there are almost 16,000 diabetes educators who hold NCBDE certification.

Jameson, who has worked at Atlantic General Hospital since 1996, is the former director of nutrition services, a role that included part time nutrition counseling in the Diabetes Outpatient Education Program for the last three years. This past October she joined the program full time as a diabetes educator.

Keplinger has been with the hospital for three years. She provides inpatient clinical care on the medical surgical and progressive care units at Atlantic General.

Renovation Begins

BERLIN – As part of continuing efforts to improve access to medical care for the residents and vacationers of Worcester County, Atlantic General Hospital/Health System has begun a renovation of the Townsend Medical Center on 10th Street in Ocean City.

“We are excited about this project and what it means for our community,” said Kim Justice, vice president of planning and operations at Atlantic General Hospital/Health System. “The renovations will allow for added convenience for those urgent care patients seen within Atlantic ImmediCare, as well as additional exam rooms and expanded occupational medicine services.”

Cosmetic upgrades will also be made to the lobby and existing patient exam areas while creating space for diagnostic services such as on-site blood work and x-rays with minimal changes to the exterior of the building.

The Townsend Medical Center’s family practice will remain open during the renovation with no extended interruptions to the medical care provided to the community. Justice anticipates the project to be complete by the time Atlantic ImmediCare reopens for the season in May of 2009.

“Visitors will still have a place to go in downtown Ocean City for fast, quality medical care at the beginning of the busy tourist season,” said Justice.

Ground Broken On Hotel

OCEAN CITY – Owners of the new Sleep Inn & Suites hotel have broken ground at 11 Baltimore Avenue. Construction is expected to be finished in May 2009.

The Sleep Inn brand is franchised by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors. Sleep Inn & Suites is a chain of mid-priced, limited-service properties that boasts one of the highest levels of guest satisfaction in the mid-market segment. The Sleep Inn brand offers a consistent experience with just the right amenities, all at a great value.

Owned and operated by Tekmen & Tekmen of Ocean City, the Sleep Inn hotel will feature 84 guestrooms and one meeting room that can accommodate up to 65 people. The hotel will offer a complimentary Morning Medley breakfast, free high-speed Internet access, complimentary USA Today or The Wall Street Journal, outdoor pool, exercise room, guest laundry, business center, bistro style deli restaurant, etc.

“We are excited to be building a Sleep Inn hotel Ocean City,” said The Tekmens. “The services and amenities of the hotel are designed to exceed the expectations of both business and leisure travelers.”

Guestrooms will feature oversized work area, large, well-lit Sleep Signature showers, free in-room coffee, hair dryers, iron and ironing board, refrigerators, Some rooms will also feature ocean views, microwaves, connecting rooms, and handicapped accessibility. Rates will begin at $ 109.99.

Trade Groups To Talk

Conservation At Expo

OCEAN CITY – The National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association will deliver their conservation initiatives to the local markets at the opening workshop, of the 35th Annual Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Spring Trade Expo.

Joining the national leaders will be Delaware’s Green Lodging program.  The panel discussion is in partnership with the Restaurant Association of Maryland and the Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association and will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 8 at the Ocean City Convention Center.

"Green Initiatives from the Industry’s Best,” will address the initiatives to inspire actions to improve a company’s bottom line, as well as its people and the planet. Green Initiatives explores conservation efforts being adopted by restaurants and hotels around the nation and will offer suggestions and resources to help reduce the cost of running an operation.

“It’s not just about being green anymore…it’s about saving green,” said Chris Moyer of the National Restaurant Association.

In today’s culture, society has become acutely aware of individual impacts on the environment and the condition of our planet for future generations. Both small, independent business, as well as large companies, can be leaders in this effort, and everyone needs to raise their awareness. Numerous cost-saving steps can be taken by businesses of all sizes that will reduce their carbon footprint, while meeting the expectations of eco-friendly guests. Businesses should be thinking about using recycled products, buying local or purchasing energy-efficient appliances. 

An example of this recently transpired in Ocean City.  At the end of 2008, family-owned, Park Place Hotel installed solar hot water panels as an energy savings measure. 

“We here at Park Place Hotel are really excited to see all the efforts the OCHMRA is putting into helping the industry take steps toward going green. When we all step up like this, as a group, we can have a major impact. The support we’ve gotten from other members has been gratifying and we’d love to see more of this happen here to make OC a leader in green travel,” said Todd Berger, General Manager of Park Place Hotel.

To attend the expo and listen to advice from the leading industry experts, register online at www.oceancitytradeexpo.com.  Expo is open to the trade only and no one under 21 is admitted.