Derby awarded by Montana Health Care Association

From Northern Montana Care Center

Northern Montana Care Center Director of Nursing Adam Derby, RN, was recently awarded the Commitment to Caring Award-Director of Nursing from the Montana Health Care Association.

This award recognizes a director of nursing from the state of Montana who is outstanding in the area of long-term care. The recipient not only excels in all professional aspects of the job, including innovative quality care, managing customer service, and demonstrating effective communications and interpersonal skills, but also shows great commitment and caring for others.

He is known to the staff, the residents and their families as "Derby."

"He can be seen most days from early morning to late at night in his office, making rounds on the floor or talking with staff members in groups or one on one answering questions, directing staff and managing the care they are providing," NMCC Administrator Christen Obresley said. "During the years that he has been working at the care center, Derby has improved the daily clinical operations of the care center."

Shortly after Derby's arrival at NMCC, he implemented the Hospitality Aide Program, a program designed to hire individuals with a high school diploma or working toward a high school diploma and train them while they are working to obtain CNA certification. This platform promotes professional development early in their careers. Derby then implemented the Medication Aide 2 training which encourages the CNAs to further their education and promote themselves by training them to be able to pass scheduled medications in the NMCC facility.

"Derby promotes long-term care in our community of Havre by daily living the motto, 'The best people to care for our residents are our own local people who understand resident needs, culture and lifestyle,'" Obresley added. "He prefers to train local folks and help them to succeed in their professional goals. We're so thankful to have Derby on our team here at NMCC."