Rose Honored As JCH&L’s Caring Kind for 2019

JoAnn Rose, cafeteria attendant, was recognized as Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Caring Kind employee for 2019 at the Nebraska Hospital Association’s annual Caring Kind luncheon on Friday, Oct. 18, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in LaVista.

JoAnn been employed at JCH&L for 7 years. She works in the cafeteria, where she assists both staff and public on a daily basis. Her nominators describe her as caring, friendly and accommodating to everyone. Nominators said she never makes anyone feel like a bother, no matter what their special need or preference. She seems to sense when her customers need some extra care and will do her best to cheer them up and make their day brighter.

Nominators said she makes the dining experience exceptional for employees and visitors alike. They note seeing her carry trays for customers who need assistance, letting staff know if one of their favorites is on the menu soon, and being a great team member for her coworkers. She treats everyone like family. She is calm, even when the cafeteria is extra busy. She is patient, even with customers who have very specific taste buds.

For 40 years, The Caring Kind award has been given to Nebraska’s most caring and compassionate hospital employees. The award honors outstanding health care employees who have demonstrated compassion for patients, cooperation with co-workers and dedication to excellence in their job responsibilities.

“The Caring Kind Award has truly become a rich tradition for the NHA and our members. The recipients demonstrate a level of kindness, caring, dedication and commitment to their patients that goes above and beyond,” said NHA President Laura J. Redoutey, FACHE. “I look forward to this event every year – it celebrates all that is good in serving others.”

Hospitals across the state each select one award recipient from within their respective institutions to be recognized during the NHA Annual Convention.

More than 2,500 skilled and dedicated health care professionals have received this award since its inception in 1979. This year, 76 employees were honored before more than 500 people in attendance at The Caring Kind Awards Luncheon held at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in La Vista.

The event showcases the exemplary work and care hospital employees provide every day throughout the year. Every Nebraska hospital employee plays a critical role in providing high-quality, cost-effective treatment and ensuring the safety of themselves, their co-workers and patients each and every day.

These honorees are star performers through their dedication to patients and teamwork, ensuring that care is safe, quality-driven and cost-effective for consumers, as well as for the organizations they represent.

The NHA congratulates The Caring Kind award recipients for 2019:

Lori Adams-Kunz, PharmD | Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital | O’ Neill
Jamileth Alvarado | St. Francis Memorial Hospital/Dinklage Medical Clinic | West Point
Rita Aschoff | Osmond General Hospital | Osmond
Gina Baker, MHD, LMHP | Boone County Health Center | Albion
Wendell Barbee, MSN, RN, CCRN | CHI Health Immanuel | Omaha
Erin Barnes, RN, BSN | CHI Health St. Mary’s | Nebraska City
Laurie Batenhorst | CHI Health Lakeside | Omaha
Katie Bates, LPN | Morrill County Community Hospital | Bridgeport
Nikea Brady, CSW | Methodist Fremont Health Dunklau Gardens | Fremont
Ann Brothers | Syracuse Area Health | Syracuse
Tammi Cawthra, APRN | Dundy County Hospital | Benkelman
Erica Cervantes, RN | Kearney County Health Services | Minden
Nikki Cook | West Holt Medical Services | Atkinson
Melinda Curry | Nebraska Medicine | Omaha
Lyle Davis | Cozad Community Health System | Cozad
Theresa Davis, RN | Providence Medical Center | Wayne
Jill Denker | Lexington Regional Health Center | Lexington
Seron Dillard | Box Butte General Hospital | Alliance
Jayda Edgar, RN | Thayer County Health Services | Hebron
Cathy Engel, RN, BSN | Brodstone Memorial Hospital | Superior
Melissa Feldhacker, BSN, RN | Methodist Women’s Hospital | Omaha
Mary Jo Fozzard | Butler County Health Care Center | David City
Megan French, RN | Memorial Community Hospital & Health System | Blair
Evan Geilenkirchen, CRNA | Community Hospital | McCook
Glenn Hain | Memorial Health Care Systems | Seward
Miriam Halstead, RN | Memorial Community Health | Aurora
Jackie Hamm-Sipley, RN | Regional West Garden County | Oshkosh
Nicole Havel, PA | Chase County Community Hospital | Imperial
Jan Heithoff | Antelope Memorial Hospital | Neligh
Alicia Hollander, RN | Tri Valley Health System | Cambridge
Alexis Hooker | Merrick Medical Center | Central City
Kelli Hromek | Friend Community Healthcare System | Friend
Elizabeth Jacobs-Fitzgerald, BSN, RNC-OB | CHI Health St. Elizabeth | Lincoln
Debra Jelken, RN | Franklin County Memorial Hospital | Franklin
Barb Jenkins, PBT | Nemaha County Hospital | Auburn
Kim Johansen, PTA | Community Medical Center, Inc. | Falls City
Jeff Kautz, PT, ATC, COMT, CSCS | Great Plains Health | North Platte
Rose Kleineweber | Crete Area Medical Center | Crete
Dorothy Kohler, LPN | CHI Health Schuyler | Schuyler
Rose Kothe, RN | Mary Lanning Healthcare | Hastings
Brint Lemke | CHI Health CUMC – Bergan Mercy | Omaha
Joan Lilly, OT | Avera Creighton Hospital | Creighton
Adriana Lopez | CHI Health St. Francis | Grand Island
Joan Manning, RN | York General | York
Dave McAtee | Boys Town National Research Hospital | Omaha
Kathy McDonald | Columbus Community Hospital | Columbus
Shelly McQuillan, MSW | Ogallala Community Hospital | Ogallala
Cindy Melcher, RN | Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center | Beatrice
Sara Milke | Johnson County Hospital | Tecumseh
Fred Miller | Children’s Hospital & Medical Center | Omaha
Floyd Mohr | Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center | Osceola
Cynthia Montanez | Regional West Health Services | Scottsbluff
Darlene Mowrey, PT, DPT | CHI Health Midlands | Papillion
Shane O’Brien | Faith Regional Health Services | Norfolk
Darla Pinkelman | OrthoNebraska | Omaha
Shanda Pouk, RT ( R ) (CT) | Phelps Memorial Health Center | Holdrege
Elaine Price, RN | Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center | Broken Bow
Mike Raasch | Pender Community Hospital | Pender
Deb Radenslaben, ASCP | Saunders Medical Center | Wahoo
JoAnn Rose | Jefferson Community Health & Life | Fairbury
Tami Rudder | Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals | Lincoln
Heather Sayaloune, LPN, CRT | Chadron Community Hospital & Health Services | Chadron
Judy Schroeder | CHI Health Good Samaritan | Kearney
Michelle Simon, PT | Nebraska Methodist Hospital | Omaha
Teresa Spier | Pawnee County Memorial Hospital | Pawnee City
Kevin Sponsel, RPh | Bryan Health | Lincoln
Vicki Stegeman, RN | Sidney Regional Medical Center | Sidney
Ann Steinkraus, CNA | CHI Health Plainview | Plainview
Abby Stewart | Fillmore County Hospital | Geneva
Cheryl Swett, RN | Valley County Health System | Ord
Kat Sybrant, LPN | Rock County Hospital | Bassett
Patricia Ward | Howard County Medical Center | Saint Paul
Jeannie Welke, CNA | Brown County Hospital | Ainsworth
Christel Wilson | Harlan County Health System | Alma
Bill Wood, RDCS, RDCS-P, RVT | Kearney Regional Medical Center | Kearney
Rick Zarek, RP | Gothenburg Health | Gothenburg