SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., –Regional West is proud to celebrate its nurses, first responders, and health system staff during National Nurses Week, EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Week, and Hospital Week this May.

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, which is Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Nightingale is considered the founder of modern nursing and is credited with establishing nursing as an honorable and meaningful profession.

“We have an exceptional team of nurses at Regional West. They have shown both dedication and compassion in providing excellent patient care, and we are grateful for their hard work,” said John Mentgen, FACHE, President and CEO of Regional West Health Services.

National Nurses Week is a celebration of nurses worldwide to acknowledge the work they do for others. The week allows people the chance to acknowledge the nurses in their lives and in the nursing profession.

This year marks the 47th annual National EMS Week. EMS Week has been celebrated since 1974, when President Gerald Ford authorized the week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the life-saving work they do in our communities on medicine’s “front-line.” Regional West’s Emergency Medical Services crew serves 16 counties in Nebraska’s Trauma 4 region and beyond, while Regional West’s Air Link team provides services to a five-state region, including Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, Kansas, and Colorado.

“We are truly thankful for the dedication of our first responders,” said Regional West Emergency Medical Services Manager Randy Meininger. “Our first responders have continued to provide exceptional care to our communities. I want to express my gratitude to the commitment of not only our first responders, but to each and every one of their families.”

“Our region has the best serving them,” said Air Link Director Ryan Gochoel. “We are proud of the time, energy, and effort our first responders devote to providing lifesaving care to our patients.”

Regional West Emergency Medical Services is an Advanced Life Support ground ambulance service that staffs both Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and Nationally Registered Paramedics (NRP). With ambulances available in Chadron, Gordon, Kimball, Ogallala, Oshkosh, Scottsbluff, and Sidney, Regional West Emergency Medical Services provides emergency and non-emergency 911, hospital to hospital, and critical care transport services. Additionally, Regional West Air Link provides critical care transport on both rotor and fixed-wing ambulatory aircrafts and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS).

Regional West joins hospitals throughout the nation in celebrating National Hospital Week, May 9 through 15. The week honors the entire community of hospitals and health care systems for all their hard work. This year’s theme, “Inspiring Hope through Healing” recognizes the innovative ways hospitals are supporting the needs of their community members, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Hospital Week dates back to 1921 when a magazine editor suggested that a community-wide celebration would alleviate public fears about hospitals in the wake of the Spanish flu pandemic, which killed more than 600,000 Americans. As communities have recently faced another pandemic, Regional West is proud to honor its staff and providers who work to protect our region’s health.

“Every member of our healthcare team is appreciated. We are extremely proud of the work each person does to provide exceptional service to our region’s communities,” said Mentgen. “We want to recognize and thank our amazing staff and providers for their service. We are fortunate and appreciate their efforts every day, especially this year."

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and the only Level II Trauma Center in Nebraska west of Kearney. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 in-network providers and approximately 2,000 staff members, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.