News Release

UPMC NORTHWEST HONORS NURSES FOR
EXCELLENCE IN PRACTICE

May 16, 2005 — UPMC Northwest has presented its second annual Excellence in Practice awards to 17 members of its nursing staff.

The awards recognize nurses throughout the UPMC Northwest organization – including its hospital, home health care, and skilled nursing divisions – who excel in their role as professionals and who typify the values and standards of nursing practice.

This year’s honorees, nominated by their co-workers and/or physicians, include 14 nurses from UPMC Northwest, two from the Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County, and one from Sugar Creek Station skilled nursing and rehabilitation center.

The Excellence in Practice award recipients for 2005 are:

• Jan Allison, RN, Nursing Administration
• Linda Beatty, RN, 3 North (Medical)
• Chris Berkery, RN, 3 West (Surgical/Pediatrics)
• Heidi Boitnott, RN, Emergency Department
• Kim Felmlee, RN, 3 North (Medical)
• Lou Fletcher, RN, Ambulatory Surgery
• Linda Grieff, RN, Emergency Department
• Dixie Johnson, RN, 2 North (Intermediate Care Unit)
• Elizabeth Judson, RN, Sugar Creek Station
• Alison Milford, RN, Family Birthing Center
• Karen Monroe, RN, 3 West (Surgical/Pediatrics)
• Judy Sandok, RN, Emergency Department
• Merry Kay Scott, RN, Emergency Department
• Scott Smith, RN, Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County
• Deb Spence, RN, Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County
• Jonathan Summers, RN, 2 North (Intermediate Care Unit)
• Franki York, RN, Wound Clinic

Three of this year’s recipients – Jan Allison, Kim Felmlee and Karen Monroe – also were Excellence in Practice honorees last year when UPMC Northwest presented the awards for the first time.

The award recipients are recognized for excellence in any or all of the roles that comprise nursing practice: direct patient care; patient/family education; as a contributing member to the nurse’s department; through community, civic or church activities; and through ongoing development and learning, either formal or informal.

The Excellence in Practice awards ceremony was held at The Franklin Club in Franklin.