SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Robin Cushing, RN-C, of Scottsbluff, and Elizabeth Fricke, of Oshkosh, Neb., were among 66 Nebraska hospital employees honored for their excellence in service by the Nebraska Hospital Association at its annual convention October 27.

Cushing, an obstetrics nurse at Regional West Medical Center, and Fricke, a patient financial services representative from Regional West Garden County in Oshkosh, received the Nebraska Hospital Association’s prestigious “The Caring Kind” awards. They were honored before an audience of more than 500 people at The Caring Kind Awards Luncheon held at Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista Hotel & Conference Center in La Vista, Neb.

The Caring Kind honorees are star performers through their dedication to patients and teamwork, ensuring that care is safe, quality-driven and cost-effective for consumers, as well as for the organizations they represent. Hospitals across the state each select one The Caring Kind award recipient from within their respective institutions to be recognized during the Nebraska Hospital Association annual convention.

“Both Robin and Elizabeth have been recognized by their coworkers for kindness, dedication to their professions, and willingness to go above and beyond to be sure patients receive quality care and service. These are traits we highly value at Regional West and their awards are well deserved,” said John Mentgen, President and CEO of Regional West Health Services.

Since 1979, The Caring Kind award has been given to Nebraska's most caring and compassionate hospital employees. The award honors outstanding health care employees who have demonstrated compassion for patients, cooperation with co-workers, and dedication to excellence in their job responsibilities.

“It is such an honor for me to meet The Caring Kind award recipients each year. They demonstrate the kindness, caring, dedication and commitment to their hospitals which is why they were awarded this recognition,” said Nebraska Hospital Association president Laura J. Redoutey, FACHE.

The Caring Kind Awards Luncheon is held to showcase the exemplary work and care hospital employees provide day in and day out throughout the year. Every employee plays a critical role in providing high quality, cost effective treatment and ensuring the safety of themselves, their co-workers, and patients each and every day. Every job is important.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.