Page 25 - BusinessWest 2023 Healthcare Heroes

with others to improve flow, shorten wait times, and reduce the number of patients who leave the ER without being seen, battles that have become even more difficult amid critical shortages of trained professionals, especially nurses.
But it also includes the national medical stage, as we’ll see. Indeed, a letter posted on Facebook from Kenton to the CEO of Mylan juxtaposed the CEO’s salary against the sky-high cost of EpiPens and thrust the debate about the rising cost of pharmaceuticals into the national spotlight.
In Massachusetts, Kenton played a strong role in the passage of a bill that would allow EpiPens to be purchased in the same manner as Narcan for municipalities, whereby the state would purchase them at something approaching cost.
Kenton has also advocated for increased protection from workplace violence in hospitals, testifying at
the State House after a colleague at Harrington Hospital suffered a near-fatal stabbing. Those efforts have been less successful in generating change — a result he blames on the high cost of measures such as metal detectors — but he continues to push for legislation that might prevent such incidents.
For his ability to listen and effect
change — in his ER and many other settings as well — Kenton is certainly worthy to be called a Healthcare Hero.
A Great Run
The art hanging on the walls of Kenton’s office certainly helps tell his story.
Most of the pictures are baseball- themed — he played in college, has attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Cooperstown since 1981, and has more than 7,000 baseball autographs, by his estimate — including photos from the fantasy camps he’s attended, with his children prominent in many of them.
“I’ve been going for 13 years now, and it’s been a pretty amazing experience,” he said, noting that he’s been on the same field as many Red Sox legends. “Now, it’s more about going back and playing with friends than seeing the Red Sox — but they’ve become friends, too.”
But there’s also a framed photo of
the cast members of The Office, a gift from his children. He is a huge fan of the show, and notes with a large dose of pride that he’s met several of the cast members and possesses a suit jacket that Steve Carell wore on the show.
While Kenton spends a good amount
HEALTHCARE HEROES OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
One of Dr. Mark Kenton’s passions
is baseball
and Red Sox fantasy camps, something that has become a family affair, as in this scene at Jet Blue Park in Florida with his sons (from left) Mark, Davin, and Jacob.
TrinityHealthOfNE.org
Mercy Medical Center is proud to recognize this year’s Healthcare Heroes and their commitment to the community.
We are especially proud to congratulate Mercy’s Healthcare Heroes Ashley LeBlanc, Nursing Director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program, and Dr. Mark Kenton, Chief of Emergency Medicine. Thank you for your contributions to our health ministry and your dedication to our Mission!
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