Nurse honored as North Valley Hospital Caregiver of the Year

When patients come into North Valley Hospital’s seasonal clinics, they are often seeking immediate care while on vacation here.

Judy Smith, Director of Critical Care for the hospital, says being part of the team that delivers that type of urgent care is a rewarding part of her job.

“I’ve really enjoyed that kind of work and it’s where you see success right away in working with patients,” she said. “At the Big Mountain or West Glacier clinics you’re serving people who don’t know where else they can access care and it’s really important to be there for them so they can continue on with their vacation.”

Smith was recently named the Plantetree Caregiver of the Year as part of the annual awards given out by the hospital each year. The award is based on employee nominations, which are evaluated by a committee of staff and administrators.

In addition, the Jake Heckathorn Spirit of Service Award was given to Shane Foster, Clinical Informatics, and the Planetree Provider Champion award was given to Dr. Jonathan Amick, anesthesiologist with Surgical Services.

Smith has been a nurse for 22 years and has been a part of North Valley Hospital. She has developed teams for the emergency room, special care unit and seasonal clinics on Big Mountain and at West Glacier. She was also part of launching the infusion department at the hospital.

“The Whitefish community has really great health care,” she said. “It has wonderful people who strive to meet a national standard for care. It’s pretty cool that a town the size of Whitefish has a hospital like this.”

During the summer, when the National Park Service encouraged the hospital to operate its seasonal clinic in West Glacier during the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith directed efforts to move the clinic to a larger space and expanded staff and services available at the clinic.

While working as a nurse, Smith says she has enjoyed the ability it gives her to care for patients for whatever they need in that moment and in her current position she is able to assist other nurses as they provide care.

“In my current role I really enjoy helping nurses to make sure they have the resources they need to care for patients,” she said. The Caregiver of the Year award is given to a hospital employee that is fully invested in the Planetree philosophy of person-centered care and shows attention to being a caregiver to patients. One nomination described Smith as “an invaluable asset to this hospital and the community.”

Smith is humbled by the award, but providing the best care for patients is really about everyone working together.

“People had some really kind words to say and that is nice, but it’s really about being part of a team,” she said. “I wouldn’t be successful without the help of those supporting me.”

Shane Foster, Clinical Informatics, was awarded the Spirit of Service Award, named in honor of North Valley Hospital volunteer, supporter, and foundation board member Jake Heckathorn.

Foster has been with North Valley Hospital for the past six years working in the Clinical Informatics Department.

“Shane Foster is a community asset,” one of the nominations said. “He cares deeply for the people of the Flathead Valley and especially those with special needs.”

Foster organizes the North Valley Hospital team for the annual Penguin Plunge, a benefit for Montana Special Olympics, and also organizes the hospital’s Drag Boats team. For several years has hosted a “Fill the Ski Boot” dinner where he asks his guests to donate to the DREAM Adaptive organization that provides outdoor adaptive recreational opportunities to individuals with physical disabilities.

Dr. Jonathan Amick, anesthesiologist with Surgical Services, was awarded the Planetree Provider Champion of the Year. As the Medical Director of Anesthesia and North Valley Hospital Chief of Staff, Amick has been working in his field for 11 years, more than eight of which at North Valley Hospital.

A nominator explained that, “Dr. Amick has gone above and beyond as a leader during this COVID pandemic making sure that North Valley Hospital patients and staff had the personal protective equipment they needed when it was scarce and hard to come by. He brought all of the patient care departments together to plan how to manage the unknown virus. His teamwork and communication made a difficult and scary time a bit easier.”

Nominees for this year’s awards included:

Planetree Caregiver of the Year nominees: Johnny Ray Birchfield (Massage Therapy), Staci Bloomberg (Human Resources), Muffy Graham (North Valley Family Medicine/Physical Therapy), Jonni Pekus (Surgical Services).

Jake Heckathorn Spirit of the Community Award nominees: Chuck Houston (Imaging) and Bess Matson, RN (Emergency Department).

Provider Champion nominees: Kelley Price, PA (North Valley Hospital Seasonal Clinics) and Jenny Streich, FNP (North Valley Family Medicine).