ORANGE PARK – Orange Park Medical Center earned Unit of Distinction in an annual program that recognizes and rewards exemplary nursing units at HCA Healthcare facilities.

Their Surgical Services team was ranked No. 10 in the county across all HCA Healthcare facilities. HCA Healthcare is made up of 185 hospitals and 119 freestanding surgery centers across 21 states and the United Kingdom. The hospital’s three South nursing unit that focuses on medical surgical care was also ranked in the top 10 percent of HCA Healthcare, receiving honorable mention for the award.

Kathy Hester, OPMC’s Chief Nursing Officer says the recipients were selected based on a number of different measures including the quality of patient care, staff engagement, education and patient satisfaction.

OPMC is dedicated to providing support to all nurses from the bedside to the boardroom through professional development, investments in technology and a commitment to helping nurses deliver excellent care to patients.

“The Unit of Distinction Award recognizes and celebrates excellence in nursing and acknowledges that it takes a high-performing team of nurses demonstrating a high level of commitment to achieve results like these,” said Jane D. Englebright, PhD, RN, CENP, FAAN, HCA Healthcare Chief Nurse Executive and Senior Vice President.

Orange Park Medical Center offers a Specialty Training Apprenticeship for Registered Nurses called StaRN for soon-to-be nursing graduates to experience a paid graduate residency. The program allows new graduates to obtain acute nursing experience in Medical-Surgical, ICU, ED and various other nursing specialties as they transition into staff RN roles within Orange Park Medical Center.

Three incumbents win re-election to Clay Electric’s board

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Clay Electric Cooperative’s members re-elected three members to the board of trustees during the co-op’s 81st annual meeting on March 28.

Incumbent Carl Hagglund of District 1, Jo Ann Smith of District 8 and Karen Hastings of District 9 were re-elected and did not face opposition. Members also approved amendments to the Cooperative’s bylaws by a vote of 1,823 to 134.

The co-op estimated that approximately 2,000 people attended this year’s annual meeting. Members who attended the day-long annual meeting enjoyed a grilled chicken lunch during the noon hour. They also had opportunities to visit information booths, talk with vendors at a variety of exhibits and listen to music under the big tent that was provided by bluegrass band Back from the Brink.

During the afternoon business session, General Manager/CEO Ricky Davis and Board President John Henry Whitehead spoke to the annual meeting crowd about the co-op’s accomplishments in 2018. Davis said the co-op returned $12 million in Capital Credits to entitled members in March.

Whitehead spoke about the many unique benefits of being a member of a cooperative.

Davis presented the co-op’s annual Employee Recognition Award to Patti Tyson, customer service representative in the Call Center. Tyson has worked for the co-op for 14 years and was nominated by co-workers for her dedication to excellent customer service.

“I would like to thank all of our members who took time out of their busy schedules to attend our annual meeting on Thursday,” Davis said. “It’s an important day for Clay Electric, and we appreciate everyone who attended.”

Several members won $25 vote by mail credits, including John Wilson of Middleburg, Dan Hansen of Fleming Island, James Wais of Fleming Island, Suzanne Pierce of Middleburg, Mark Maxwell of Keystone Heights, Julie Ann Potts of Melrose, Kathy Brooks of Orange Park, Thomas Chase of Middleburg, Sherri Johnson of Green Cove Springs, Diane Davison of Middleburg, Kathy Hause of Middleburg, OPC News, LLC of Sumter, SC, John Inman of Fleming Island, Jeffrey Holt of Fleming Island, Matthew Davis of Orange Park, John Abt of Green Cove Springs, Beau McRae of Middleburg, and Kenneth Kendzierski of Green Cove Springs.

FDOT upgrades its FL511 mobile app

The Florida Department of Transportation has released an upgrade to its traveler information system mobile app. The FL511 Mobile App – Connect. Know. Go. Is now available for download to smartphones at the Apple App Store and Google Play. Current users will receive an automatic update on their phones.

The mobile app is a component of the Florida 511 Advanced Traveler Information System, which provides real-time traffic and travel conditions on Florida roads. The mobile app has been available for both Apple and Android devices since 2012. It underwent a significant upgrade in 2018 and early 2019 in response to today’s rapidly changing technology.

Improvements include a completely redesigned user interface. The following features were added: a voice interaction feature, the ability to view events within a specific radius, the ability to view camera snapshots for specific events, the ability to create and save destinations, a truck parking availability feature and the ability to display road closures and detour maps.

“This is a major enhancement to the FL511 mobile app,” said FDOT’s Eugene Jules. “It includes popular features, including drive mode and voice interaction.”