Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) recently hosted a gathering of employees and friends at its second annual Nurses Week Awards, which recognizes nursing professionals who go above and beyond for their patients and colleagues. The event was held as part of National Nurses Week, which was celebrated from May 6 to May 12.
The ceremony was held in the Hospital’s recently renovated Café and included opening remarks by Amy Visser-Lynch, MSN-ED, RN and Interim Chief Nursing Officer of MAHHC who recognized the entire nursing staff for their commitment to patient health and safety. Light refreshments were served.
Felicia Murray, RN and President of the Interdisciplinary Council Governance was recognized for her commitment as the Council’s first president. Ms. Murray presented awards to five of her colleagues, including: Linda Richardson, LNA, Licensed Nursing Assistant of the Year; Angel Oliver, LPN, Licensed Practical Nurse of the Year; Jessica Bean, MA, Medical Assistant of the Year. The Exemplary Professional Practice Award was presented to Elizabeth Sheehan, RN; and the MAHHC Nursing Excellence Award, to Vickie Day, RN.
The winners were selected from a pool of nominees submitted by their peers. Winners must have recorded achievements in one or more of the nursing profession’s major domains: practice, education, and research. They must demonstrate leadership in at least two areas: advancing the practice of nursing; improving the quality of care; promoting and maintaining professional nursing standards; contributing to the enhancement of professional nursing; and demonstrating excellence in teaching and role development.
“The theme of this year’s National Nurses Week is ‘4 million reasons to celebrate,’ and each of our honorees gives us many reasons to celebrate each day,” said Visser-Lynch. “These nurses serve their patients with grace, ingenuity, and incredible skill. They’re role models to their colleagues, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group of compassionate professionals to continue this tradition.”
About Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center
Founded in 1933, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) is a not-for-profit community hospital network in Vermont including the critical access-designated Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Historic Homes of Runnemede, a senior residential care campus, in Windsor, as well as the Ottauquechee Health Center in Woodstock. A member of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health system, MAHHC provides primary care and a comprehensive suite of specialty services, along with 25 inpatient beds, a therapeutic pool and an acclaimed, fully modernized 10-bed Acute Rehabilitation Center. Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center is dedicated to improving the lives of those it serves and is at the hub of a wide network of community resources that have partnered to cover gaps in services, and improve overall population health. One of the largest employers in the area, MAHHC acknowledges its employees as its greatest asset and has been recognized by the Governor’s Office with an Excellence in Worksite Wellness award.
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), is a recent recipient of Best Practice recognition by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) for health care quality, and is recognized by the American Hospital Association (AHA) as one of the “Most Wired” hospitals for integration of technology to boost clinical performance. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded MAHHC with Level 3 status, the highest level of medical home designation.