Montana VA Health Care System
Nurse receives congratulations from network director
Thelma Lofink (center) is congratulated for being named 2009 Hands and Hearts award winner by Norlynn Nelson (right), VA Montana Associate Director for Patient Care Services, and Glen Grippen, Network Director, VA Rocky Mountain Network 19.
Thelma Lofink, a nurse at Fort Harrison VA Medical Center, received special recognition from the Network Director of VA Rocky Mountain Network 19 recently.
Lofink was congratulated for being named the 2009 Hands and Hearts Award recipient by Glen Grippen, VISN 19 Network Director, during his visit to Montana on Dec. 15.
The Hands and Hearts award recognizes VA employees whose dedication to Veterans is marked by the highest standards in patient care.
"(Thelma) assures the Veteran's care is individualized and appropriate and works closely with the provider to create a team approach for care," said Debera Charlton, RN and Nurse Manager for Ambulatory Care, Central Montana, who nominated Lofink for the award. "She sets the 'gold standard' for customer service for our Veterans."
Lofink works in Fort Harrison's Ambulatory Care Department and has been at the VA for more than 15 years.
As network director, Grippen is responsible for the direction and management of all operations, finances, and clinical programs of three hospitals; three Health Care Systems, including Eastern Colorado, Salt Lake City and Montana Health Care Systems; and 33 community based outpatient medical and dental clinics. The network office is based in Denver, Colo.
