Over 1,100 Nebraska Health Care Professionals Attend Nebraska Hospital Association’s 2023 Annual Convention
The Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) hosted its 2023 Annual Convention October 25-27, 2023, at the Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista Hotel & Conference Center in La Vista.
More than 1,100 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: Lisa Walden, Dr. Marty Makary, Dr. Steve Berkowitz, and Simon Gisby. 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 25, 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 Treg Vyzourek, CEO of Brodstone Healthcare in Superior.
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: Community Hospital in (McCook); Non-Critical Access Hospital category: CHI Health Immanuel (Omaha); Rural Health Clinic category: Bryan Health (Lincoln).
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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 2023 NHA Meritorious Service Award recipient was Pat Connell, Vice President of Behavioral Health, Compliance, and Government Relations with Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha.
The Trustee of the Year Award was presented to Deb Hoarty, Trustee at Fillmore County Hospital in Geneva.
In addition, the NHA awarded two Nebraska state senators with the Health Care Advocate Award: Senator Eliot Bostar (Lincoln) and Senator Mike Jacobson (North Platte). This award is reserved for recipients that not only portray an acute interest in improving health care but invest countless hours in the pursuit of increased access to quality health care across Nebraska.
The NHA also recognized 43 graduates from the Class of 2023 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 27, the Convention concluded with the 44th Annual The Caring Kind Awards Luncheon. Each year, NHA member hospitals from across the state select one employee to receive The Caring Kind award. 80 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, assists its members to provide comprehensive care to their communities, and improves the health status of those communities. For more information, visit the NHA website at www.NebraskaHospitals.org.