The following is a guest post from Margaret Flinter:

Last night, in four different venues across Connecticut, more than 1,000 people gathered in each one to honor outstanding nurses who have made an indelible difference and significant contribution to the profession of nursing, to their practice sites, and in the lives of patients and families.  The event is called the “Nightingale Awards”, and CHC, Inc. annually selects one nurse from among our ranks as the CHC “Nightingale Award Winner” of the year.  This year, we were honored to select Lucy Golding, Nurse Manager for our CHC sites in Fairfield County, who was honored along with eighty other nurses from Fairfield County is a celebration held at the Stamford Hilton.  As Lucy’s name was announced, the following citation was read, and I think it captures what we all know of Lucy’s extraordinary talent and commitment.

 “Lucy Golding, RN, is a primary care nurse engaged in nothing less important than leading the transformation of primary care in the United States.  Lucy is the nurse manager for all  of the Community Health Center’s Fairfield County sites (Danbury, Norwalk, and Stamford).

Lucy leads a team of nurses and medical assistants in ensuring that the highest standards of primary care, as defined both by CHC and by the NCQA Standards for a Patient Centered Medical Home are met.  She also is part of a multidisciplinary team, coordinating care and collaborating with medical, behavioral health and dental health providers to deliver truly comprehensive care to the uninsured, underserved, and special population.

Primary care nursing in a community health center follows a continuum that stretches right through the walls of the health center and into our neighborhoods, schools, and communities.  You will find Lucy working with patients individually and in groups, in person and via the electronic heath record. You will find Lucy supporting immigrants in their transition to a new land, and mentoring new nurses. You will find her leading “clinical Microsystems” in improving quality.

Wherever you are, you are fortunate indeed if Lucy Golding is your primary care nurse.