In their bi-monthly ritual of presenting C.A.R.E. Awards, officials from Northern Montana Health Care (NMHC) announced their most recent recipient. Registered Nurse Leanne (Standiford) Brewer, a member of the Medical/Surgical Nursing Team at Northern Montana Hospital, received the honor during the third week of December.

Brewer, who is a resident of Chinook, has worked at the hospital since February of 2017. She was nominated for this honor by her co-workers, who complimented her professionalism and caring spirit.

"I had just sat down for lunch in the break room when one of the Case Managers asked me to step out into the hallway for a moment, and I was like, 'You've got to be kidding; I just sat down!' Imagine my surprise when I was met by my Supervisor, Sarah Spangler; the hospital's CEO, David Henry; the Vice President of Patient Care Services, Eric Koch; several members of The High Five Club, and various people from HR-all wearing masks.

"When they congratulated me and read a bit about why I had been nominated for the C.A.R.E. Award, I was a little embarrassed because I was just doing my job. Still, I am appreciative because we all like to know that someone else recognizes that we're doing the best that we can. And really, no honor or amount of money can replace the reward of knowing that a patient has recovered or found some comfort because of my care," Brewer said.

About Brewer, the Director of the Medical/Surgical Nursing Team, Sarah Spangler had this to say: "Leanne never sits still. She is always working and is willing to take on any extra tasks that are presented to her. She exemplifies the values of our organization by placing her patients and their families first. We are lucky to have her knowledge and positive attitude on our team."

Capturing the motto: Compassionately Achieving Remarkable Excellence, the C.A.R.E. Award was started as part of NMHC's Customer Service Group, "The High Five Club." According to Marketing and Public Relations Personnel at NMHC, "the purpose of this bi-monthly recognition is to acknowledge employees who have served at NMHC in an exceptional manner by exemplifying outstanding service through their work and consistently exhibiting a positive and supportive attitude."

With its core values of Quality, Caring, and Service, Customer Service is important to NMHC. Their mission and vision reflect those values as they aim "to deliver high-quality, comprehensive health care services to the Hi-Line communities." Recognizing excellence in their employees is one of the ways they attempt to achieve their vision "to be the healthcare provider and employer of choice for our Hi-Line communities."

During the surprise announcement from The High Five Club at NMHC, Brewer was presented with a jacket bearing The High Five Club's logo. As the 21st C.A.R.E. Award winner, she also received a gift certificate to the hospital's Care Wear Store.