Nursing Annual Report 2026 | A Legacy of Excellence

Excellence in Nursing Exemplary Professional Practice Winner: Annie Boehm RN, ED

Annie Boehm RN, ED

Annie’s leadership in improving early sepsis recognition and care has had a meaningful impact in the emergency department. Recognizing sepsis as a time sensitive condition, she worked with nurses, physicians, educators, and informatics teams to strengthen screening tools, streamline workflows, and support real time decision making.

She focused on practical, bedside education, helping nurses feel more confident in identifying early signs of sepsis and acting quickly. Her efforts led to clearer documentation and improved communication across the care team. Compliance with the six-hour sepsis care bundle increased, and within six months, sepsis related mortality decreased.

Beyond these outcomes, Annie fostered a culture of confidence and accountability. Nurses felt more supported and better prepared to deliver timely care.

Annie’s commitment to patient safety, teamwork, and excellence has strengthened care for vulnerable patients and reflects the highest standards of professional nursing practice, making her a deserving recipient of the Exemplary Professional Practice Award.

Age Friendly Care in Action: A Nursing Legacy of Healing Together

Our Age-Friendly Care journey began with the passion and vision of one nurse who attended a NICHE conference and returned inspired to make a difference. She brought what she learned back to her unit-based partnership council, sparking a shared commitment to better meet the needs of older adults. Through collaboration and determination, her unit achieved Age-Friendly status, setting the foundation for broader impact. Today, that momentum has grown, and the Los Gatos campus has also earned Age-Friendly recognition.

Our Age Friendly Team takes a moment to confer on the care of an elderly patient.

What started as a single idea has evolved into a system-wide initiative supported by a dedicated Age-Friendly Steering Committee and focused subcommittees centered on the 4Ms: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. This work is championed by executive sponsors, including our Chief Nursing Officer and Associate Chief Nursing Officer, and driven by a truly interdisciplinary team. Nursing leadership, physicians, ancillary departments, and direct care nurses all play an essential role in advancing this effort.

Together, this team is transforming how we care for older adults by ensuring every interaction is thoughtful, coordinated, and centered on what matters most to each patient. The Age-Friendly Care initiative reflects our deep commitment to dignity, safety, and quality of life, while empowering nurses and care teams to lead meaningful change. It is a powerful example of how one voice can inspire a movement and how, together, we can elevate care for every generation.

Reigniting the Spirit Through Relationship Based Care

Relationship Based Care is grounded in the belief that meaningful, respectful relationships are essential to safe, compassionate, and high quality nursing care. By adopting this approach as our patient care model, we reaffirm our commitment to care that is rooted in professionalism, human connection, and mutual respect among nurses, patients, families, and colleagues. This model recognizes that therapeutic relationships are foundational to trust, safety, and healing, and that strong connections within care teams directly support positive patient experiences.

In partnership with Creative Health Care Management, we implemented structured, interactive workshops to support nurses in understanding and applying the principles of Relationship Based Care in daily practice. These learning experiences provided clear education on the model while fostering reflection, dialogue, and shared learning across the nursing workforce. Through these workshops, nurses were encouraged to reconnect with their purpose, strengthen teamwork, and reflect on the values that guide patient centered care.

This continued focus on Relationship Based Care has strengthened collaboration, supported professional growth, and renewed a shared commitment to compassionate practice. By embedding this model into everyday care delivery, nursing continues to play a vital role in fostering healing, trust, and excellence in the care of our patients and families.

Compassion at Every Age: Our Age Friendly ED

El Camino Health Mountain View’s Emergency Department reached an exciting milestone this year by earning Level 3 Bronze Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA). This national recognition highlights our commitment to providing high quality, compassionate, and specialized care for older adults in our community.

The GEDA program was developed by leading emergency care organizations to improve how hospitals care for older patients, who often have unique and complex needs. Achieving this accreditation means our team has implemented best practices such as enhanced screening for conditions like delirium and fall risk, specialized education for staff, and the availability of equipment designed specifically for older adults.

This achievement reflects the dedication and collaboration of an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and clinical leaders who share a passion for elevating care. Their work ensures that every older adult who enters our emergency department receives thoughtful, age appropriate care in a safe and supportive environment.

In addition to recognizing current excellence, GEDA provides a pathway for continuous improvement. Over the coming years, our team will build on this foundation by using data, feedback, and national best practices to further enhance care and outcomes for older patients.

We are proud to be part of a growing network of hospitals across the country focused on advancing geriatric emergency care. This accomplishment represents not just a designation, but a meaningful step forward in our mission to deliver exceptional care to every patient, at every stage of life.