2009 NeRHA Annual Conference, Holiday Inn and Convention Center Kearney, NE
September 17th and 18th, 2009
Rural Can't Wait - Making Change Work for Rural Nebraska
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Please click here to print Exhibitor and Sponsorship Contracts
Please contact Melissa Beaudette at mbeaudette@mwhc-inc.com or 402-421-7995 for any additional questions
NEBRASKA RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
Congratulations to the 2008 Nebraska Rural Health Association Rural Health Award Winners!
YOUR INPUT IS VALUABLE!!
Each year, the Nebraska Rural Health Association solicits nominations for 4 awards. Please click here to print an awards nomination form and an explanation of each award.
(Awards will be presented at the annual Conference in September.)
The President’s Award is not given every year. It is only awarded at the discretion of the Nebraska Rural Health Association President. This year the award was presented to Marty Fattig. Fattig has impacted the status of healthcare delivery in rural Nebraska as a clinical provider, as a healthcare executive, as an advocate for rural healthcare programs, as an influential leader of the Nebraska Rural Health Association, as a mentor, and as a strong voice for the future. The hallmark of Marty’s efforts has always been patient safety and quality. He has been and remains today a strong voice for these standards through his pioneering efforts to lead the implementation of information technology throughout the facility and the medical community of Auburn.
Marty Fattig and Allen Van Driel, NeRHA President
His efforts led to Nemaha County Hospital being designated by the American Hospital Association as one of its “Most Wired” facilities last year.
Marty has served in a number of leadership capacities throughout Nebraska. He has served as the Chairman of the Nebraska Hospital Association Services Board, as a member of the NHA Research and Education Foundation Board, and Chairman of the NHA Issue Strategy Group on Workforce Shortages. He has served the educational community as President of the Southeast Nebraska AHEC, and as a member of the UNMC College of Public Health External Advisory Council. He serves on the Executive Board of the Mid-America Hospital Alliance and is a member of the Critical Access Hospital Steering Committee. He serves on the Critical Access Hospital Advisory Board on Quality, and is a member of the Nebraska Rural Health Advisory Commission. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Rural Health Association, and served as President of the Association as well.
The Outstanding Rural Health Practitioner Award recognizes an individual who is a direct service provider and who has exhibited outstanding leadership, care, and collaboration in improving health services in rural Nebraska. Those eligible for this award are individuals who provide direct patient care. This year the Outstanding Rural Health Practitioner Award was presented to Dr. Gerald Luckey of the Butler County Clinic.
President’s Award – Marty Fattig, CEO Nemaha County Hospital, Auburn, NE
Outstanding Rural Health Practitioner Award – Dr. Gerald Luckey, Butler County Clinic,
David City, NE
Allen Van Driel, NeRHA President and Dr. Gerald Luckey
Dr. Luckey has a long standing reputation of very personal care, giving every patient as much time as they need. During his 35 years of working with preceptors he has encouraged many of them to practice in rural areas. Dr. Luckey has been a key player in the success at Butler County Health Care Center. Dr. Luckey graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and completed an internship in Nebraska. He began his family medicine career in David City where he continues his practice. Currently Dr. Luckey is involved in supporting his community through the David Place Nursing Home and St. Joseph Villa as their medical director. His involvement as a board member on the David City Chamber of Commerce, St Joseph Villa and the Future Generations Health Care Foundation reflect his strong commitment. Dr. Luckey and his wife have three children and seven grandchildren.
Outstanding Rural Health Achievement Award – Dale Gibbs, Good Samaritan Health System,
Kearney, NE
This year the Nebraska Rural Health Association decided to honor 2 individuals for the Outstanding Rural Health Achievement Award. This award recognizes individuals for leadership and noteworthy initiative in promoting the development of community-oriented, rural healthcare delivery. This year the first award was presented Dale Gibbs of Good Samarian Health System. Each day, Gibbs works in the best interests of rural healthcare. This is particularly true in his current role of director of outreach and telehealth services, but access to rural healthcare has been Gibb’s long-time passion.
Good Samaritan Hospital serves as the hub for a strong critical access hospital network with which Gibbs works very closely. “Dale Gibbs works hard to facilitate relationships and communications with hospitals, physicians and staff within the network,” says Steve Loveless, vice president of ancillary services at Good Samaritan. “Dale knows rural healthcare from both the small and larger hospital settings and believes in the value of outreach and telehealth to Good Samaritan and equally to rural health.
Dale has been a leader in the rural healthcare community for a number of years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his position.” Gibbs first suggested offering monthly education for emergency medical technicians via telehealth to Good Samaritan’s original 5 telehealth sites. Now, this EMS Trends course is offered to 28 sites. His enthusiasm for telehealth continues today in his role as a co-chair for the Nebraska Statewide Telehealth Network. Gibbs has the ability to grasp the importance of the future of telehealth for rural Nebraskans. Gibbs helped found the Tri-Cities Medical Response System that has grown from assisting 3 hospitals in 3 counties to 18 hospitals in 23 counties in planning for emergencies. He has taken a leading role in working to change regulations that would give rural communities better access to pharmacists via telehealth, is a strong proponent of teletrauma, and worked diligently to help secure the grant that would fund the Rural Nebraska Regional Ambulance Network.
Commitment and dedication are two of Gibb’s hallmarks, as are his responsiveness and easy-going personality. He is a trusted leader and he continually looks for ways to collaborate rather than compete worth others in an effort to strengthen healthcare in the state.
Allen Van Driel, NeRHA President and Dale Gibbs
Outstanding Rural Health Achievement Award – William Bauerle, Chase County Community Hospital, Imperial, NE
The second Outstanding Rural Health Achievement Award was presented to William Bauerle, Chairman of the Board for Chase County Community Hospital. His achievements in realms of leadership, community service and character have enabled this small facility to obtain advanced equipment and deliver quality service.
Bauerle joined the Board of Trustees in April of 2000 at a time when it would have been easier to criticize the work of the hospital and board than to take a risk on improving the state of affairs.
He was instrumental in the process of building and establishing a hospital owned clinic to draw back the community members seeking healthcare out of the local area. His vision is to be a leader in technology for small hospitals. This belief has allowed for the implementation of electronic medical records for the clinic, an electronic medication management system for the hospital pharmacy as well as many improvements in the radiology department.
Bauerle possesses many talents and donates his skills to help cut costs around the hospital and lend a hand to fellow employees in need. He volunteered his time to refurbish the old laboratory cabinets, remove flooring, and paint walls to save the hospital vital operating dollars. He is often visible on his tractor clearing snow from the hospital parking lot during the winter or improving drainage ditches on the outside boundaries during the summer. During a family health crisis he gathered a team to help an employee construct part of their home. Through Eagle AirphoTo, his private business, Bauerle has provided Chase County Community Hospital beneficial marketing tools that promote the Chase County Development Committee, community, hospital and clinic, and the Hospital Foundation.
Allen Van Driel, NeRHA President and William Bauerle
It is important to recognize that rural healthcare delivery systems will survive only with the involvement of rural consumers. The Rural Health Distinctive Consumer Advocate Award honors and individual consumer, who is not an employee in the healthcare or health insurance industry, for active participation within his or her community. This year the award was presented to Beverly McNiff of Franklin, NE.
Rural Health Distinctive Consumer Advocate Award – Beverly McNiff, Mid Nebraska Community Services, Inc., Franklin, NE
McNiff also serves children with the WIC program that provides women and infants or the Community Supplemental Food Program for Children, Women and seniors. She also serves on the Food Pantry Network. McNiff’s name appears as a contact under the 06 and 07 Nebraska Project Networking Guide, The Franklin After School Program and KidVision are 2 of the cited projects.
Good Beginnings of Franklin County has benefited from her participation as a Board Member and as President. Under her guidance, Good Beginnings has continued an annual health fair, now for 12 years. Through Good Beginnings, President George Bush recognized the efforts with the Daily Point of Light Award in 2006. Good Beginnings also expanded the health fair concept to high school students in 2005, with a fair that addresses teens’ health concerns and needs. This was expanded in 2006 to include an elementary health fair. The school related health fairs have been held in Hildreth and Franklin, both in Franklin Co. McNiff is also a leader with the TeamMates program since inception in the fall of 2000. Other programs Bev has participated in or led include “Baby, Think it Over”. Babysitting Clinics, I’m in Charge for latch key children. Most recently, McNiff has secured scholarship funds that assist individuals who require financial assistance to receive any services.
The Nebraska Rural Health Association is a non-profit membership organization whose primary mission is to work for the improvement and preservation of rural health in Nebraska. The Association is committed to providing leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communication and education. The Association provides a forum to address rural health concerns and develop and promote effective solutions at the local, state and national levels.
McNiff is an employee of Mid-Nebraska Community Services, Inc. Through her employment, she serves individuals in Nuckolls, Webster, Franklin, Harlan and Phelps Counties. McNiff is not a woman who sits in the office and waits for something to happen, she goes out and makes sure people receive services.
Allen Van Driel, NeRHA President and Beverly McNiff
