St. Francis nurse receives $3,000 gift certificate

Kathy Brand, nurse manger of the obstetrics department at St. Francis Hospital & Health Services, will be celebrating the holidays in style this year after being named one of six winners in an SSM Health Care system employee recognition program.

Brand recently received a $3,000 gift card in appreciation of her years of service to SSM. She has worked for the non-profit hospital chain for more than 30 years.

"It was just such a totally nice surprise," said Brand, who added that she and her husband will probably use the declining-balance card to help pay for a cruise they are planning to the Caribbean.

Another chunk of change will likely go for presents for the couple's two grandchildren, ages 2 and 4, whom Brand described as "the delight of our lives."

"They're easy to spend money on," she said.    

SSM President William P. Thompson said the gift card program was established as a way to say thanks to employees' who have built noteworthy careers within the organization.

"Your knowledge, your experience and your commitment over the years make it possible for our patients to receive the kind of care that touches their souls," Thompson wrote in a letter to Brand. "Thank you for all the hard work you’ve done in your 36 years with SSM Health Care."

SSM Health Care is a Roman Catholic-affiliated health care system with 7,300 physicians and more than 25,600 employees in four states: Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Illinois and Missouri.

Based in St. Louis, it is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary and owns 17 hospitals in addition to maintaining relationships with numerous other health care institutions.

In 2002, SSM became the first health care organization to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes efficient implementation of best-practices management principles.