NIHD press release
Northern Inyo Healthcare District is in the middle of a two-week celebration that highlights the shared values held by district employees. The celebration is born out of a blending of National Hospital Week, National Nurses Week, and a City of Bishop proclamation recognizing the contributions of all NIHD staff to the health and well-being of our local communities.
Registered Dietitian Denice Hynd, left, shows Susan Kable, Maria Augare, and Rocio Morales Garcia how to make chia pudding as part of a healthy cooking class held during Healthcare District Week at NIHD. Photo by Barbara Laughon/Northern Inyo Healthcare District
The cornerstone events of the celebration occurred this past weekend or are coming up in the next few days.
Last Saturday, the Healthcare District hosted its annual Years of Service dinner, recognizing more than 53 employees for the longevity of their careers within NIHD. This year’s longest serving employees were nurses Julianna Lowden and Gretchen Schumacher, and Community Relations Coordinator Cheryl Underhill with 40 years of service. Employees clocking five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years were also recognized.
On Monday, the spotlight fell on the nurses nominated for the 2019 DAISY Award for Excellence in Nursing. The winner of the honor, Donise “Dee Dee Costello, was announced at an afternoon ceremony in the hospital’s second floor waiting room. This year’s nominees also included Ellen Bartlett, Laura Partridge, Lauren Ricksecker and Lindsay Donahue. The DAISY Award, a globally-recognized honor, was first given at NIHD in 2013.
Also Monday evening, the Bishop City Council presented NIHD with a proclamation naming the month of May as Northern Inyo Healthcare District Month. Kelli Davis, NIHD’s Chief Operations Officer, and Tracy Aspel, Chief Nursing Officer, accepted the honor on behalf of the NIHD team.
Then during this Friday’s employee barbecue, the District will award two inaugural lifetime achievement awards. The John A. Ungersma Lifetime Achievement Award for Healthcare Leadership honors an individual whose lifetime achievements in healthcare has provided the citizens of Northern Inyo Healthcare District with leadership in health care access, delivery, service, and improved health outcomes.
The Pete Watercott Lifetime Achievement Award for Service to the Community honored an individual whose lifetime achievements in service to the communities of Northern Inyo Healthcare District have fulfilled a need of the citizens of the community and resulted in an enhanced health status of the communities.
Beaming with pride, NIHD Chief Executive Officer Kevin S. Flanigan, MD MBA, noted, “I know members of the local communities and our healthcare team do great things, but I was still amazed to see what each nominee has achieved over the years, and for each one it was clearly a labor of love and compassion.”
Registered Dietitian Lindsay Hughes whips up a chia pudding base. Photo by Barbara Laughon/Northern Inyo Healthcare District
For the past week and coming few days, each of NIHD’s 36 departments is being individually recognized for their contribution to Team NIHD. Leadership rounds the District each morning presenting certificates of appreciation and small gifts such as lanyards and pins to employees.
Gail Bailey, center, enjoys the afternoon Zumba class taught by Amanda Holland as part of Northern Inyo Healthcare District’s Healthcare District Celebration. Shown with Gail, from left to right, are: Lindsay Hughes, Paige Wagoner, Denice Hynd, and Alicia Campos Moreno. Photo by Barbara Laughon/Northern Inyo Healthcare District
Team-building events dot the daily schedules. Last week employees enjoyed health and wellness classes given by their co-workers. Topics were varied, including everything from Qichong and meditation, to high-energy Zumba dance courses. Cooking classes, presented by NIHD’s Registered Dietitians, focused on simple and healthy options such as chia puddings and tuna salads. The class menus were designed to help team members make smarter food choices for themselves and their families.
“These classes really allow team members from across the District to strengthen their teams’ bonds with each other,” Dr. Flanigan explains. “All of this helps strengthen Team NIHD so that we can collectively and collaboratively improve healthcare for our communities. If we can build a strong team within NIHD, then we can build a strong connection with our communities and our healthcare partners. The effort becomes a win-win for everyone.”
In addition, some events such as Spirit Wear Day, Gardening Day, and Crazy Sock Day were thrown in for good fun. A photo booth, set-up away from patient care areas, allows team members to make memories with their departments and friends. An ice cream social will help round out the event.
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About Northern Inyo Healthcare District: Founded in 1946, Northern Inyo Healthcare District features a 25-bed critical access hospital, a 24-hour emergency department, a primary care rural health clinic, a diagnostic imaging center, and clinics specializing in women’s health, orthopedics, internal medicine, pediatrics and allergies, general surgery, colorectal surgery, breast cancer surgery and urology. Continually striving to improve the health outcomes of those who rely on its services, Northern Inyo Healthcare District aims to improve our communities one life at a time. One team, one goal, your health.
