2006 Caring Kind Award

Diane Carpenter, of rural Brunswick, is this year's winner of Antelope Memorial Hospital’s “caring kind” award. She was recognized during National Hospital Week May 7 – 13.

Each year the Nebraska Hospital Association honors employees from hospitals across the state as “caring kind” employees. The honored employee must exemplify that spirit of someone who gives that “something special” to others.

Ms. Carpenter was nominated and selected by her fellow AMH employees to win this prestigious award. Her nominations reflected the many positive qualities she exhibits at work each day.

The nomination cited Ms. Carpenter as being “kind and helpful to fellow employees, patients and visitors. She has a quiet, reassuring way of dealing with people and goes out of her way to accomplish what needs to be done with kindness and a joyful heart.”

Ms. Carpenter’s co-workers said she is “truly an asset to Antelope Memorial Hospital as she comes to work − no matter what the weather. In March, she traveled over 20 miles from home on a tractor, driven by her husband, following a blizzard. They drove for over 3 hours through and around snowdrifts in order for her to make it to work. Her determination that day reflected her dedication to her job and others.”  

“I was so surprised to receive this special award,” said Diane. “I treat people the way I like to be treated − that’s important to me. However, there are so many wonderful people working here at AMH that I never thought I’d be the one to win. I’d like to give this award to all AMH employees − as there’s so many caring people here. This hospital is a wonderful place to work; the environment makes my job easy.”

Ms. Carpenter works in patient services. Her job entails handling the hospital’s communication needs to include the switchboard, lifeline calls and the ambulance radio. It also involves registering all patients for outpatient visits and hospital admissions. She began work at the hospital in January 2003.

She and her husband, Joel, are members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Neligh. They reside in rural Brunswick where Joel farms. They have two daughters, Tonya, age 25, and Camille, age 19, and two sons, Tristan, age 22, and Chad, who died at age 10 in 1993, following an illness. After graduating from the Lincoln School of Commerce, Tonya is currently employed at Region V Services as a customer support assistant. Camille is currently majoring in physical therapy at Northeast Community College. Tristan farms with his father in rural Brunswick. Diane’s hobbies include arts and crafts.

In October, the Nebraska Hospital Association hosted an award presentation at the Cornhusker in Lincoln to honor Ms. Carpenter and other “caring kind” recipients in Nebraska