For as long as I’ve been in the long-term care sector, work in our profession has gone underappreciated. Often, our nurses are asked why they work in nursing homes when they can work anywhere in healthcare. And while we all loved seeing the hero treatment of hospital workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us asked when the country would recognize our teams.

Simply put, our people just don’t get the recognition they deserve.

That is until McKnight’s came to the rescue. One of the things I appreciate about McKnight’s is its recognition of people in the sector, and through a series of award programs it is highlighting some of the “best of the best” and the work that they do. This series includes McKnight’s Women of Distinction and the McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards. Both celebrate a broad array of leaders across the country.

A highlight among highlights is the Career Achievement Award, which McKnight’s awards at the Pinnacle Awards Gala. It’s quite an honor. One person, each year, is noticed for a lifetime of accomplishments. This year, McKnight’s named Mary Ousley as the winner of the award.

Well, done.

Mary has been the voice of skilled nursing in DC for decades and has led us on a quality path that has made our sector better. Sometimes, she has charmed us, other times she has pushed and pulled us, but whatever it has taken, she has made sure that quality care is our guiding star. By complete coincidence Mary is also the featured guest on the Park Place Live podcast “Let’s Talk” this month, and I encourage you to catch that episode.

McKnight’s deserves major credit for recognizing and rewarding Mary. It is hosting a celebration at the Edison Hotel in New York City to honor her and other winners of the Pinnacle awards on March 18. See information here.

I know I will be there on the 18th cheering for Mary and everyone else. Thanks again to the McKnight’s team for recognizing some of the best of our profession. It is in this spirit of celebrating and promoting the success of our people that drives Park Place Live, where each day we strive to share best practices, inspirational stories, news and analysis, and thought leadership for our growing stable of readers.

Thank you for being part of the community we are building at www.ParkPlaceLive.com.