Nebraska Hospital Association Hosts 95TH Annual Convention

The Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) hosted its 2022 Annual Convention October 19-21, 2022, at the Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista Hotel & Conference Center in La Vista.

More than 1,000 participants attended three days of networking, professional education and sharing with peers and the industry's leading experts. Throughout the three days, national and local speakers took the stage to share their insight and expertise on a variety of topics impacting health care professionals. The NHA Annual Convention was also host to the largest health care trade show in the state with over 100 exhibitors that provide the vital products and services that Nebraska hospitals utilize in their operations.

Highlights of the event included several nationally known keynote speakers: Ben Hammersley (futurist), Ron Hetrick (critically acclaimed labor economist) and Kim Becking (leadership resilience expert). The convention also featured over 50 speakers and presenters, providing the latest trends, updates, innovations and best practices in health care. The NHA Annual Convention also hosted several allied health care organizations who have their membership meetings in conjunction with the event.

On Wednesday, October 19, the Nebraska Hospital Association hosted an awards banquet honoring excellence in personal and/or organizational accomplishments within Nebraska hospitals. Several awards were presented to recognize outgoing board members, American College of Healthcare Executives Nebraska-Western Iowa Chapter awards, and NHA PAC awards.

The NHA’s highest honor is the Excellence in Service award. This award is presented to a hospital/health system administrator or senior executive who has demonstrated outstanding administrative skills, professional performance, health care organization involvement and significant leadership. This year’s recipient was Diane Keller, Memorial Community Health (Aurora). Diane recently retired from the health care profession after serving 50 years in her community.

Three Nebraska hospitals were honored with the Quest for Excellence award for their impressive results for implementing initiatives to improve quality of care for patients: Critical Access Hospital category: Thayer County Health Services (Hebron); Non-Critical Access Hospital category: Great Plains Health (North Platte); Rural Health Clinic category: Saunders Medical Center (Wahoo).

The Meritorious Service award recognizes the long-term contributions of members to the association and their individual hospitals. This award recognizes longevity and breadth of service of an individual, not only to their facility, but to health care in the state. The 2022 NHA Meritorious Service Award recipients were Mel McNea, Great Plains Health (North Platte) and Rose Wischmeier, Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center (Beatrice).

The Trustee of the Year Award was presented to F. Thomas Waring, MD, who currently serves on the Board of Directors for Methodist Fremont Health (Fremont).

The NHA also recognized 37 graduates from the Class of 2022 NHA Leadership Institute program. The NHA Leadership Institute is an intensive year-long leadership development program designed specifically for hospital middle managers and health care leaders who want to update their leadership skills.

On October 21, the Convention concluded with the 43rd Annual The Caring Kind Awards Luncheon. Each year, NHA member hospitals from across the state select one employee to receive The Caring Kind award. 83 health care professionals from Nebraska’s hospitals were honored at this celebration of caring and outstanding health care service excellence.

The Nebraska Hospital Association is the unified voice for Nebraska’s hospitals and health systems. The Association offers collaborative leadership, assisting its members to provide comprehensive care to their communities, improving the health status of those communities. For more information, visit the NHA website at www.NebraskaHospitals.org.