OVERLAND PARK, KS — (July 27, 2022) — HCA Midwest Health announced today that Menorah Medical Center and Overland Park Regional Medical Center nursing units have earned the 2022 HCA Healthcare Unit of Distinction (UOD) Award – an annual program that recognizes and rewards exemplary nursing units at HCA Healthcare sites of care. The “Unit of Distinction” designation is achieved through measurable, exemplary performance in the strategic areas of advocacy and leadership, consistency in nursing practice and operations and leveraging scale to drive performance.
Launched in 2015, the Unit of Distinction Award is an essential component of HCA Healthcare’s strategic nursing plan. With more than 2,300 sites of care, HCA Healthcare’s 93,000 nurses have abundant opportunity to choose work across a wide spectrum of clinical and non-clinical settings.
“The Unit of Distinction program celebrates how nurses across our organization are achieving top outcomes. It’s how we execute our nursing strategy and unites us all towards a common goal,” says Dr. Sammie Mosier, senior vice president and chief nurse executive of HCA Healthcare. “Congratulations to all nursing units across HCA Healthcare who work each day to deliver excellent care to patients and to support our community of 93,000-strong nurses!”
In a ceremony broadcast from HCA Healthcare’s headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, a total of 202 nursing units from across the country were recognized as top-performing nursing units. Units of Distinction are categorized in the top five percent of all HCA Healthcare medical surgical, critical care, emergency services, surgical services, behavioral health, women’s and children’s nursing units, pediatrics/PICU and inpatient rehabilitation units. The top six to 10 percent of all HCA Healthcare units earned honorable mention designations.
Menorah Medical Center’s ICU and inpatient rehabilitation units and Overland Park Regional Medical Center’s freestanding emergency room in Shawnee were recognized with the Unit of Distinction Award.
“It is an honor for HCA Midwest Health hospitals to receive these exemplary awards, recognizing our nurses who are on the frontline every day, providing exceptional and compassionate care, and constantly advocating for our patients,” says HCA Midwest Health Chief Nursing Executive Amber Boes, RN, MSN. “With nearly 200 hospitals and emergency departments throughout HCA Healthcare, having three of our units chosen is an incredible honor. This award exemplifies why HCA Midwest Health hospitals are known for helping nurses to advance their skills and build their careers.”
Menorah Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Katie Bruels, DNP, RN, notes HCA Midwest Health supports and invests in the nursing profession with leading-edge technologies and increased access to clinical education and professional development opportunities.
“This helps make HCA Midwest Health the premier career destination for nurses in the Kansas City area,” she says. “The level of performance and nursing excellence in the two Menorah Medical Center units that were recognized is remarkable. The leadership of Jenny Streeby, director of nursing, is instrumental in inspiring, motivating and coaching our entire ICU nursing staff. And witnessing Lisa Norder, Chris Brown and Missy Hickman direct their nursing staff to focus on patient progress and outcomes in our rehabilitation unit is so gratifying. In fact, we are expanding beds because of quality of care that our community has recognized. The Unit of Distinction, and the reason our units received this award, reinforces and reignites the very reason we answered the calling of nursing. Our nursing leadership is committed to maintaining a culture of excellence.”
“Overland Park Regional Medical Center is proud to be a part of HCA Midwest Health, an organization that celebrates how our dedicated nursing staff continually raises the bar in high-quality and compassionate patient care,” says Overland Park Regional Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Nan Rick, MSN, RN, NEA-BC. “Our freestanding emergency room in Shawnee is a prime example of the standards we have for patient care and the resiliency and commitment our team demonstrates. Both Cheryl Boyd, director of emergency department, and Donna Sosna, supervisor, have worked for HCA for more than 15 years. They are shining examples of how HCA nurses #CareLikeFamily, while also leading by example, each and every day.”