Wyoming Hospital Association recognizes St. John's at annual convention

At its annual convention, the Wyoming Hospital Association gave its 2018 Outstanding Volunteer Program award to St. John’s Medical Center; awarded Dr. Emmy Knobloch the Dan Lex Award; recognized Becca Wartig, RN, as a nominee for its annual nursing award; and acknowledged St. John’s for 75 years of membership in the association.

“It’s an honor for St. John’s to receive the Outstanding Volunteer Program award, and it’s a reflection of the excellent work provided by our compassionate and committed volunteers,” said Blair Christy, director of patient experience and volunteer services at St. John’s Medical Center. “Under the guidance of our volunteer coordinator Joni Upsher, our 140 volunteers are an integral part of our care team.”

The volunteer program supports many areas of the hospital, including hospice care, oncology, the Living Center, and spiritual care. The “volunteen” program provides opportunities for teenagers to get involved with hospital work, and Pet Partners brings in trained therapy animals to help comfort and reduce stress levels in patients and staff members alike.

As volunteer coordinator, Upsher expanded volunteer training, increased the professionalism of the program, and implemented scheduling technology.

For more information on the volunteer program, and for an application, go to tetonhospital.org/volunteer

Dr. Emily Knobloch was awarded, in memoriam, the Daniel J. Lex Award for Lifetime Achievement in Long Term Care. Emmy was the medical director of St. John’s Living Center from 2004 to 2016. Her nomination form noted that she treated all of her patients with the utmost compassion and that her exceptional skills were best on display during end-of-life care, as she was a huge advocate of hospice and palliative care. In the words of a Living Center resident, “If there was ever an angel put on this earth, it was Dr. Emmy. She was my doctor but she also became my dear friend. She would take me to lunch or just call me to check on me. When I was sick, she would shop for me and bring her two dogs to visit. I will always miss her.”

Also at the WHA’s convention, St. John’s director of surgical services, Becca Wartig, RN, was recognized as a nominee for the Norman S. Holt Award for Nursing Excellence. Among other qualities, the nomination is based on concern for the profession, respect by peers, creativity and innovation in nursing care, and dedication to providing the highest quality of care possible. According to her nominating party, “Becca is truly an asset for the medical center and the community. She embodies what it means to be dedicated to her job and to the profession of nursing.”

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Media contact: Karen Connelly, 307 739 7380, kconnelly@tetonhospital.org

ABOUT ST. JOHN’S MEDICAL CENTER
St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming, offers patient-centered clinical excellence and community wellness services through a full-service hospital, primary care, and specialty physician practices, and a long-term care Living Center.

ABOUT THE WYOMING HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

The Wyoming Hospital Association (WHA) is a member owned, private, non-profit organization representing Wyoming hospitals. WHA serves as the voice of Wyoming hospitals to local, state, regional and national legislative and regulatory bodies, the media and the general public. While the Association’s primary focus is representation and advocacy for Wyoming hospitals, WHA also provides data services, educational programs, and a variety of other membership services.