HCA Healthcare Awards of Distinction at EIRMC
HCA Healthcare Awards of Distinction are given annually in recognition for exceptional patient care, commitment to our community, and innovative thinking.
The Frist Humanitarian Awards recognize humanitarian spirit and philanthropic work of the late Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr., a founder of HCA Healthcare, EIRMC’s parent company. Each year we honor an employee, physician and volunteer with this award.
EIRMC’s Excellence in Nursing Awards recognize nursing practice that provides the highest quality of care to patients we serve. There are two categories for this award: Professional Mentoring and Compassionate Care.
Frist Humanitarian Award, Employee: Jan Prudent, BA, CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL, CFER
Jan is the manager of our Sterile Processing Department (SPD) and she has been part of the EIRMC team for nearly thirty years. She is a role model for the profession of sterile processing and the role it plays in patient care and high-quality outcomes.
Jan was recently elected Board President of the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), an international organization with 50,000 members worldwide and a mission to provide Sterile Processing professionals with educational opportunities, professional development and certification. She has been active with HPSA since 1999 serving in a variety of roles including five years on their Board of Directors.
Jan is one of only 25 individuals (worldwide!) to earn the prestigious HSPA Fellowship, the highest distinction of SPD professional achievement.
Jan volunteers nearly 300 hours annually to HSPA. Through her work with HSPA, she has traveled to Washington DC to advocate for professional standards that advance patient safety; participated in HSPA’s international hospital exchange program; written chapters for professional certification manuals; and presented at industry conferences.
Jan established the Idaho chapter of HSPA to promote education for SPD professionals in our rural state. Additionally, she successfully lobbied Idaho Governor Brad Little to designate “Sterile Processing Week,” recognizing SPD professionals as front-line defenders of patient safety.
Jan’s second passion is Bonneville County 4-H, devoting over 250 hours annually. She has served in a variety of roles, including Board President, Idaho 4-H Advisory committee member, 4-H Hunting Skills and Wildlife Level 2 instructor; Idaho Nationals Coach; and a Western Heritage Level 2 instructor.
Jan is humble, kind, compassionate, and she is incredibly devoted to serving our patients, her employees, and our community.
Frist Humanitarian Award, Volunteer: John Walter
John has been a Volunteer Chaplain at EIRMC since 2012 and has volunteered 2,426 hours.
As a Volunteer Chaplain, John is an important asset to the patients, families, and colleagues at EIRMC. John provides emotional and spiritual support and resources that are of great comfort to ill and recovering patients regardless of religion, background or personal beliefs. John exudes a positive, and professional attitude, and conducts himself with the highest of integrity.
John’s fellow Chaplains describe him as passionate about his work, calm, approachable, and as somebody who laughs easily and often, and has all the attributes of a fine Chaplain.
Another described John as a wonderful servant and such a fine and likeable man, who will spend as much time as needed to be sure that each patient’s spiritual needs are met.
One of John’s peers mentioned a story about a return patient, who said that following her last admission, John not only visited her here at EIRMC, but also went to see her at the facility that she moved into after her stay here. This act of kindness demonstrates how John goes above and beyond what is expected of him, to care for others.
John has a PhD in Physics, and worked in Data Acquisitions and Computer Programming at the INL until 2016, when he retired after 36 years. John is currently learning Spanish, and in his free time enjoys reading, and playing video games with his two grown children.
John’s kindness, dedication, and willingness to help those in need make him a treasure not only to EIRMC, but also to our community.
Frist Humanitarian Award, Physician: Mary Beth Ostrom, M.D.
Dr. Ostrom has been a Psychiatrist in the EIRMC Behavioral Health Center for over 20 years. Her most admirable trait is her dedication to patient care, and is an excellent and skilled clinician.
The complexities and risks with psychiatric patients are different than any other area of the hospital. Dr. Ostrom makes safety for the patients and staff a priority in all she does. She champions use of evidence-based practice in the care of patients.
Dr. Ostrom is a true advocate for our patients. She always wants the best outcome for them. She leads an effective treatment team meeting where she proposes solutions for patients with limited resources.
Dr. Ostrom is also a great mentor and teacher. She is passionate about our psychiatric residency program and provides an exceptional learning experience for them. Over her career, she has taught countless medical students, family medicine residents, nurses and psychiatric technicians. Additionally, she is never too busy to stop and answer a question for one of our nurses or psychiatric technicians. The difference Dr. Ostrom has made carries on in those she has taught.
HCA Excellence in Nursing, Professional Mentoring: Crystal Russell, RN, Progressive Care Unit
Crystal is an RN on the Progressive Care Unit, and has been with EIRMC for 25 years. During her tenure, she has precepted, mentored and trained hundreds of nurses at EIRMC.
Crystal loves to teach - her students and orientees don’t just learn tasks- they learn the why and the science – helping them understand the bigger picture. Crystal cares for the sickest patients when they need the most experienced, skilled nurse on the floor. Her clinical skills are unmatched by anyone else.
Her most recent nurse resident, Brooke, said: “she has been so encouraging and supportive every time I have worked with her. She has a way of explaining the pathophysiology and will take time to find and pull resources to make sure everyone’s questions are answered. I have asked her “WHY” 500 times and she is never annoyed or makes me feel silly. She is so patient and kind and a phenomenal teacher.”
Another said, “Crystal knows everything about nursing. She’s smart, she knows her patients in depth- their pathophysiology, diagnosis, symptoms and what to watch for like the back of her hand. She is the nurse we all look up to, we are half the nurse she is. Anything you may have a question about, Crystal will have the answer.”
HCA Excellence in Nursing, Compassionate Care: Max Fransen, RN
Nursing is often called the “caring profession.” They give so much of themselves to others, walking patients and families through their scariest times. It seems part of nurses’ “nature” to be compassionate to those in need. But sometimes you meet a nurse who is does more, impacts more, cares more. That is Max Fransen, RN, in the Emergency Room.
Max cared for the sibling of a fellow trauma nurse. The colleague called Max “the most tender and compassionate nurse” during her brother’s tragic passing. During her family’s worst times, Max listened, supported, and was “present physically and emotionally” for them. She describes that Max checked in with the family even on his days off.
Amazingly, when the same nurse’s father was hospitalized one year later, Max was a part of his care team. When he passed, Max did the little things that brought comfort to her and her mom: turned off beeping monitors, cleaned up the room, hugged, loved.
Max was also honored in 2023 with the DAISY Award for exceptional nursing care. The nomination was written by the sibling of a young man named Dylan who died in a motorcycle accident. The family chose to donate Dylan’s organs, prolonging his stay in the ICU as the donation details were handled.
Max exemplified the best of our values, taking care not just of Dylan, but of his entire family. Dylan’s sister wrote about how Max tenderly cleaned Dylan so he would be ready for his family each morning. She shares that Max picked up extra shifts to be with them, talking, laughing, and even crying alongside people he didn’t know, but clearly loved.
We recently brought this family back to EIRMC at a public event to promote the importance of organ donation. Even two years later, Max’s impact was palpable to this family.