Irma Morales is proud of her career with Hillcrest Healthcare. Now a registered nurse, Morales manages a 72-bed unit at Beverly Park Place.
“In the beginning my English was not so great,” says the Mexico native. Co-workers encouraged her to get further training. (She started in 2001 as a CNA – certified nursing assistant.) “The administrative staff has given me opportunities that I have welcomed.”
Covid safety precautions remain in place at Hillcrest facilities. Outdoor visits are permitted under certain conditions. Most patients and staff have been vaccinated, and mid-October data showed zero cases of Covid among patients and staff at Hillcrest’s three Knoxville facilities.
During the pandemic, residents have missed social events and family visits. The activities team has been creative, Morales said, with one-on-one visits and even online activities to keep residents connected.
She smiles when recalling “hall bingo” with residents sitting at the doorway to their room and the caller yelling the next number. Her unit has both ambulatory patients and others who are completely dependent.
“We got used to wearing masks We have coped.”
Hillcrest is currently hiring, and Morales gives the company high marks. She has stayed for 20 years and would not hesitate to recommend Hillcrest Healthcare to family or friends.
“This is a good place to work; a good place to be.”
Beverly Park Place earns national recognition
Beverly Park Place, one of three Hillcrest Healthcare communities in Knoxville, has been recognized as the No. 6 top nursing home in Tennessee on Newsweek’s Best Nursing Homes 2022 list.
The list, presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., highlighted the country’s top 450 nursing homes out of 11,849 analyzed. The facilities are evaluated using key performance data, peer recommendations and response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is the third time that Beverly Park Place has earned the national recognition.
“Being named to the Newsweek Best Nursing Homes 2022 reflects Hillcrest Healthcare’s continued commitment to our Beverly Park Place residents and their families,” said Barry Davis, CEO of Hillcrest Healthcare.
“Our administration and staff have worked tirelessly to provide quality care and support, ensuring that we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic better than we were before. This ranking reflects the work of the entire Hillcrest Healthcare family and our healthcare community partners.”
Located at 5321 Beverly Park Circle in North Knox County, Beverly Park Place provides skilled nursing, rehabilitation services and Alzheimer’s and dementia care at its 271-bed facility and is the largest of Hillcrest Healthcare’s three communities.
For more information about Hillcrest Healthcare, visit https://www.hillcresthc.com/
Diana Fisher, BSW, LNHA, is director of business development at Hillcrest Healthcare. Sandra Clark conducted the Morales interview.