Brian Dutiel has a calling to serve.
As administrator of Buckeye Care and Rehabilitation in Lancaster, OH, and pastor of a local church, Dutiel is always willing to lend a helping hand to other people.
He says the one constant throughout his life has been his Christian faith. He grew up in the church, singing in the choir in his youth, and started playing piano at church when he was 19. He later attended and graduated from Ohio Christian University.
“My faith helps me in managing stress and having care and compassion for people, and feeling empathy for what they’re going through,” the father of four says.
In addition to the church, Dutiel has spent most of his life working in nursing homes.
At age 17, he began as a dishwasher at New Lexington Care and Rehabilitation in New Lexington, OH. That led to many other positions and after completing an administrator-in-training program, he was promoted to nursing home administrator in October 2006.
He then served as administrator at other places for nine years. At one time he thought about going into the ministry full time but felt he could have a greater impact on more lives working in nursing homes.
“I felt basically I was doing God-affirming work,” he says. “I’ve worked in nursing homes since I was 17 years old and I still love it to this day.”
He continues to do ministry work on the side. He has been lead pastor of Together Ministries Church since 2018, a small congregation of about 75 people in central Ohio.
He considers himself a “hands-on person” and always tries to go the extra mile to help others. As administrator of Buckeye Care and Rehab, he went through training to become a temporary nursing assistant during the COVID-19 pandemic and assisted nursing staff for about a year in providing direct care to residents.
Adam Johnson, who previously worked as director of nursing under Dutiel and is now a regional nurse, says Dutiel “really stepped up in a big way” to lead his team during the pandemic by getting his TNA certification and filling in on nursing shifts when staffing was short.
“He did it with a smile on his face. He didn’t complain,” says Johnson. “I think he genuinely enjoyed providing patient care.”
In addition to singing and playing the piano, Dutiel enjoys cooking. He will occasionally prepare breakfast for staff and also serenades and plays the piano for nursing home residents on special occasions. He sometimes caters church events and has done weddings and graduations in his spare time.
Dutiel has been married to his wife, Stacy, for 31 years and they have four children, two biological and two adopted. Dutiel said two of his children had major health scares when they were younger and that has made him more empathetic for staff who are facing their own personal struggles.
“I get that life outside of the building for employees is tough,” he says. “There are things that are going on in their personal lives, and I want them to know that I’m here to help them, even with things that aren’t under the umbrella of work.”
Resume
1994-2006 Works as dishwasher, cook, social services director and admissions marketing director at New Lexington Care and Rehabilitation
2006-2010 Serves as administrator of New Lexington Care
2006 Graduates from Ohio Christian University
with a bachelor’s degree in leadership and ministry
2010-2016 Becomes nursing home administer for Homestead Center (now Buckeye Care and Rehabilitation)
in Lancaster, OH
2016-2019 Serves as executive director, Altercare Zanesville
2018-present Is lead pastor at Together Ministries Church in Thornville, OH
2019-present Returns as administrator of Buckeye, takes on dual role at Circleville Post Acute
From the July/August 2023 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
