The employees of Muleshoe Area Medical Center (MAMC) gathered December 12 to celebrate the holidays and recognize staff members who achieved employment milestones in 2019.

The festivities started at 6:00 p.m. in the Bailey County Electric meeting room and featured a feast of brisket, sausage and all the fixings prepared by J & D Barbeque.

Honored during the event were Senaida Buenrostro, phlebotomist and laboratory assistant, who has worked for the hospital for 30 years.  She received a pin, gift card and trophy.  Also recognized were long-time employees Maria Barron, housekeeper, with 25 years of service and Ana Ramirez, housekeeper, with 20 years of service.  Both also received a pin, gift card and trophy.

“The employee awards ceremony is one of the highlights of my holiday season,” said Dennis Fleenor, hospital administrator.  “I enjoy the opportunity to thank our employees for all that they do day-in, day-out, to provide and support the quqlity patient care we provide to the community.”

Staff members who received pins and gift cards recognizing 10 years of employment included:  Michael Estes, maintenance, Bertha Gonzalez, accounts receivable specialist, and Melissa Shultz, physical therapist.  Recipients of 5-year pins were:  William Durben, RN, and Ricky Richerson, radiology technician.

A special feature of the party was a slide show sharing photos of last year’s events, and highlighting 2019 accomplishments compiled by Jodi Vidana, administrative assistant.

“We receive two awards for quality this past year,” reported Fleenor, “and I am proud of every single member of our medical, hospital and clinic staff who make quality our number one priority.”

The providers and staff of Muleshoe Family Medicine Clinic and Medical Clinic of Muleshoe recently received a Letter of Commendation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for their combined efforts to enhance the quality of care and improve the health status of Medicare patients.

Last February MAMC was recognized with a TMF Award for Hospital Quality Improvement given to only 152 of 745 hospitals in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, that demonstrated improved performance on specific national quality measures.