Derby Green in Derby, Vermont, is a small, 23 bed nursing home with a big, positive reputation that grows with every passing year. And that reputation recently grew again on May 17th when the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (D.A.I.L) awarded the home with it eighth Quality Award since the department first awarded the honor in 1999. No other nursing home in the state has earned this prestigious award so many times.On August 25 Lisa Bolhman, the director of Derby Green, accepted a check for $11,476.91 from the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living as a result of the long-term care home earning its eighth Quality Award. Left to right: Claudio Fort, President and CEO of North Country Hospital; Kathy Austin, chairman of the hospital’s board of directors; Fran Keeler, the director of Licensing and Protection; Lisa Bohlman; Susan Wehry, the Commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living; Paula Ducharme, RN, the Director of Nursing at Derby Green; Bill Perkett, Vice President of Hurman Resources at North Country; and Andre Bissonnette, Vice President of Finance at North Country.‘It is quite an honor to win this award for the last 5 years in a row and a total of 8 times since the award has been given,’ Lisa Bohlman said. ‘This award is not easily achieved and it takes work to continue to receive it each year. We could not have won this award without the dedication and commitment of each person in each department here at Derby Green.’ Bohlman is the administrator of the home which is located on Route 5 in Derby.The recent honor was bestowed upon Derby Green at the Gold Star Conference held at the Quechee Club in Quechee. The award was given by Susan Wehry, the commissioner of DAIL, and Fran Keeler, the director of the Division of Licensing and Protection. Bohlman and Paula Ducharme R.N., the director of director of nursing services at Derby Green, accepted the award. Then on August 25 Susan Wehry and Fran Keeler traveled to the long-term care home in Derby to award them a check for $11,476.91 for their dedication to patient care.Also at the conference Derby Green, which employs 29 workers, was honored with the Gold Star Employer Award. This program is implemented through DAIL and the Vermont Health Care Association. To earn this honor, Derby Green proved it had implemented ‘best practices’ for retention and recruitment of employees. Derby Green was awarded this honor every year between 2005 and 2011.I am so proud of my staff and the quality care they give to each of our residents each day throughout the year,’ Bohlman said. ‘Working at a nursing home is not for everyone, it takes someone who genuinely cares for the residents.