CCMH Honors Employees for Milestone Years of Service, Names Employee of the Year
July 20, 2026
CARROLLTON, Mo. – Carroll County Memorial Hospital honors employees for special milestones and awards from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Lisa Goodson, Delyna Horst, Kyle Ohrenberg, and Devin Barnett were each selected as Employees of the Quarters. After an all-staff vote, Horst was named CCMH Employee of the Year for 2025.
Comments from Horst’s Employee of the Quarter nomination included: “Delyna is an outstanding member of our clinical team and an essential part of Dr. Smith’s practice. She manages a very busy daily clinic schedule with exceptional organization, attention to detail, and dedication to patient care. She handles all daily patient correspondence — returning calls, managing referrals, and ensuring that every task is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
Each morning, she ensures that all materials requiring Dr. Smith’s attention, are ready and on his desk before the start of clinic, helping the team stay on schedule and ensuring that patients receive efficient, coordinated care. Her conscientiousness and commitment to excellence set a high standard for the entire clinic.
“She consistently goes above and beyond her assigned responsibilities — arriving early to process faxes for all providers, assisting with records and messages for 350 nursing home patients monthly, she stays focused to make sure every patient’s needs are met the same day. She also helps with scanning and faxing issues, demonstrating her willingness to support the entire clinic team.”
Horst joined the CCMH team in October 2019 and currently serves as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Jefferson Medical Group.
“Delyna rarely misses work, approaches every day with a positive attitude, and is always thinking ahead to anticipate what providers and patients will need. She is often mentioned in patient survey comments and is known for her compassion, warmth, and the genuine relationships she builds with patients. Whether she’s helping a patient in and out of their vehicle, or sharing a kind word and a laugh, she makes everyone feel cared for and comfortable. Her reliability, teamwork, and dedication to both her patients and colleagues truly exemplify the spirit of excellence our clinic strives for.”
CCMH is proud to have one employee, Nancy Lock, reach a milestone of 40 years of dedication to the organization.
“Forty years, what an amazing commitment to CCMH, to the Rehab department, and to the community,” said Mady Grider, CCMH Director of Rehabilitation Services. “Nancy has been an icon of PT in Carroll County for the past 40 years. She has helped countless patients in that time to regain their independence and restore quality of life. She has left her impression on each of us who have had the opportunity to work with her and learn from her many years of experience. She remains committed to lifelong learning and is open to new ideas and concepts in treatment. She continues to make great contributions to our therapy department and is always willing to help us out when she can. I hope she still feels like coming to work for many more years!”
CCMH honored Tina Austin and Kristina Kemble for 30 years of service to CCMH.
“Thirty years of nursing and service is an incredible legacy of care and dedication and definitely something to be proud of,” said Shelbie Alexander, CCMH Director of Community Health. “Thank you to Tina for the many lives she’s touched along the way. Her knowledge and compassion make an impactful difference in the lives of the patients and community, and our team is lucky to have her.”
“Kristina has really ‘grown up’ at CCMH, serving in a variety of capacities along with five different CEOs, inclusive of the transition happening this June,” said Scott Thoreson, former CCMH Chief Executive Officer. “She is the consummate professional, whether dealing with patients, families, or the many different people who constitute the day-to-day affairs of CCMH. Kris is extremely practical and her 30 years of service have made her a wonderful resource for others as they seek answers. Thank you, Kris, for your wit, humor and overall dedication to CCMH. I am blessed to have had her as the final executive assistant in my career.”
Kimberly Benedict, Heather Germann and Pam Henderson were recognized for 25 years of service to the organization.
“Kim is recognized for 25 years of dedicated service as a nurse at CCMH, most of which has been spent in the outpatient clinic,” said Jennifer Hostetter, CCMH Director of Outpatient Clinic. “A true clinic expert, she is known for her kindness, compassion, and commitment to her patients and team. Kim’s caring nature and dedication have made a lasting impact. I am grateful for her contributions and proud to celebrate this remarkable milestone.”
“Wow, Heather—25 years! What an incredible accomplishment,” said Pam Henderson, CCMH Director of Health Information. “Heather began her journey with CCMH while still in high school, working after school and on weekends filing records—a commitment she continued through college. After graduating, she explored transcription and quickly discovered both a passion and a talent for it. Following the EMR transition in 2010, Heather moved into a coding role and has since earned her CPC (Certified Professional Coder) credential. While she may be modest about it, Heather is a true perfectionist, consistently striving for accuracy and excellence. Her unmatched attention to detail, strong work ethic, and reliability make her an invaluable member of the team. She is a trusted resource for all things coding and is always willing to share her knowledge, mentoring and supporting both new and experienced coders. Thank you, Heather, for 25 years of dedication and commitment to the HIM Department and CCMH!”
“For 25 years, Pam has been a steady, trusted presence at our hospital, and it is hard to imagine this place without her,” said Rachel Davidson, CCMH Chief Communications Officer. “As Director of Health Information, she has played a big part in guiding us through enormous organizational changes. Pam leads without drama, offering honesty, clarity, and the willingness to have the conversations that matter. She is deeply trusted behind the scenes, relied on for her sound judgment and expertise, and genuinely committed to this hospital and its people. As a leader, she takes the time to truly know her team, their families, goals, and ambitions, and encourages each person to grow and reach their full potential. Outside of work, Pam brings the same dedication to her growing family of twelve grandchildren with one more on the way, her beloved dogs Stella and Bridget, and her many cats, with a special place reserved for Harry, the OG. Whether she is keeping records or cows in order, Pam keeps everyone grounded and moving forward. We are lucky to have her.”
CCMH also honored Mikki Sue Ford, Brittany Higgins and Esther Persinger for 20 years of service to the organization.
“Celebrating 20 years of service is a truly remarkable milestone,” said Shelley Norman, CCMH Director of Inpatient Services. “Over two decades, Mikki Sue has not only provided skilled, compassionate care but has also been a steady source of comfort and reassurance for countless patients and families. Working in a rural hospital requires resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to community, and she embodies all these qualities every single day. Her contributions have made a difference in ways that can’t always be measured but are deeply felt. This milestone is a testament to her passion and the countless lives she has touched along the way. Congratulations, and thank you for 20 years of extraordinary service.”
“Wow, 20 years,” said Laura Dodge, CCMH Chief Operations Officer. “Brittany exemplifies dedication and is a true spirit of service. She consistently steps forward to take on new projects and supports evolving organizational needs with enthusiasm and reliability. Her deep expertise in reporting, revenue, and billing and financial assistance makes her an invaluable resource, not only to her team, but across the organization. Her knowledge, commitment, and willingness to help others truly set her apart.”
“Esther has been a dedicated and reliable employee for 20 years, consistently demonstrating professionalism and a strong work ethic,” said Talanna Rushmore, CCMH Director of Materials Management. “Her deep knowledge of the organization and commitment to excellence have made her an invaluable part of the team. She approaches every challenge with patience and integrity. Esther’s long-standing contributions continue to have a lasting impact on the success of the CCMH.”
Eleven employees celebrated 10 years, and those individuals were Devin Brown, Rachel Casner, Madison Ford, Rachel Harper, Crystal Jones, Kathy Lightfoot, Jnae Myers, Victor Ray, Deborah Smith, Kayla Sturgeon and Jenny VanDeventer.
Nineteen employees were recognized for five years of service to CCMH, and they were Devin Barnett, Kyle Bell, Brittnie Bernhardt, Vincent Burgess, Heather Cairns, Cindy Cauble, Melissa Cline, Amber Fisher, Brittany Hays, Mary Holt, Tyler Kempf, Megan King, Tatum Laire, Trent Link, Kelsey Lyon, Jennifer Mathews, Stacy Nier, Kelly Terrell and Paige Thomas.
Hilary Taylor was also recognized as the 2025 Great Catch of the Year. The Great Catch program was implemented in 2019 with the purpose of recognizing an event that could have been harmful to a patient, but was prevented.
“This gives us an opportunity to recognize staff members for going above and beyond when caring for our patients,” said Megan Griffin, CCMH Safety and Risk Coordinator. “Our staff are quick on their toes and recognize potential harmful situations before they even happen. I am proud of the safety measures our staff instinctively put forth to make our patients not only safe, but have a great experience at CCMH.”
In 2025, the following individuals were recognized for good catches ranging from missing cords to wholesaler errors to home issues with no-show patients to subtle signs of stroke: Hilary Taylor, Heather Cairns, Amy Peck, Jacie O’Dell, Whitley Reffitt, Clari Bahr, Kim Benedict and Samantha McKinney.
Over the past year, CCMH welcomed vascular specialist Dr. Jonathan Wilson, was named a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital for 2025, selected as 1 of 23 Senior Life Solutions training sites in the nation, received three Get With the Guidelines recognition awards for STEMI/Stroke procedures and protocols, Dr. Pamela Ralls was recognized as University of Missouri-Kansas City Community Preceptor of the Year, Dr. Andy Horine participated in the White House roundtable discussion about rural health, and Outpatient Rehabilitation Services received 2025 Press Ganey Human Experience Guardian of Excellence award.
For more information about the services at Carroll County Memorial Hospital, visit our website http://www.carrollcountyhospital.org or call 660-542-1695.
Carroll County Memorial Hospital (CCMH), the area’s premier healthcare resource, is a 25-bed Critical Access facility serving Carrollton and the surrounding communities. It offers 24-hour emergency care, specialized services such as advanced diagnostics, post-acute skilled care (swing bed) and comprehensive family care. CCMH is dedicated to the Health and Well Being of All We Serve. For more information, visit carrollcountyhospital.org.