May 19, 2010

BIGFORK VALLEY NEWS RELEASE

Bigfork Valley Director of Patient Care wins Minnesota Hospital Association Caregiver of the Year award

At an awards ceremony on Friday, May 14, Nancy Probst, RN, BSN was named the 2010 Minnesota Hospital Association's Caregiver of the Year.

Nancy was one of six individuals and 12 hospitals recognized by MHA for their services to health care in Minnesota. The Caregiver of the Year award honors a person who demonstrates both outstanding delivery of patient care and leadership in developing services. Other criteria identify outcomes in patient satisfaction and community service.

Nancy joined Bigfork Valley in 1976 and has been the Director of Nursing since 1987. In 2003 she was named Director of Patient Care Services, a position within the hospital with leadership responsibility for acute care, surgical services, emergency, cardiac rehab, home care and specialty clinics.

During her career at Bigfork Valley, Nancy has developed a service-oriented hospital environment that truly reflects her belief that each patient should feel they are in a homelike, caring place. She has provided the type of dedicated leadership and example that has put and kept Bigfork Valley at the top of patient satisfaction scores in the state, although she points out that good patient care is a result of the caring attitude of every member of her staff and staff of the facility.

Within the hospital, Nancy has worked to expand services where community needs have been identified, including expansion of chemotherapy, visiting OB/GYN, sleep studies and more. As well as being sensitive to her patients, Nancy has championed skill upgrades and additional certification training for her nursing staff.

"We are truly blessed to have Nancy at Bigfork Valley," said Dan Odegaard, CEO. "Nancy has gained both the confidence of our physicians, the respect of her nursing staff and the trust of our patients."

"Nancy's efforts exemplify the kind of first-rate attention to quality that Minnesota hospitals are known for," said MHA President and CEO Lawrence Massa.

The MHA is the professional association representing acute and specialty hospitals within Minnesota. Other 2010 award winners are posted at www.mnhospitals.org.

In 2009, Gail Blackmer, chair of the Bigfork Valley Board of Trustees received the MHA Trustee of the Year award.