Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Names Ricole Potts as March Path to Excellence Award Recipient

Lake City, Iowa — Stewart Memorial Community Hospital is proud to recognize Ricole Potts as the March Path to Excellence Award recipient for her nearly 25 years of dedicated service and compassionate patient care.

Throughout her career, Ricole has worked in multiple departments, giving her a unique understanding of how each area of the hospital works together to provide quality care. For the past five years, she has served as a surgery clinic nurse alongside Dr. Cheney, a role she finds particularly meaningful.

“I love being part of a team that helps guide patients through their surgical journey from start to finish,” Potts shared. “Surgery can be stressful for patients and families, and I try to treat every patient the way I would want my own family treated, with kindness, patience, and reassurance.”

Ricole’s experience across departments has strengthened her appreciation for teamwork, organization, and communication, which are all essential to delivering seamless care. Compassion is at the heart of everything she does, ensuring patients and families feel supported at every stage of their experience.

She also values working for a strong community hospital that offers comprehensive services close to home. “We are so lucky to have such a strong hospital in our community, not only for patient care, but also for the employment opportunities it provides for so many families. It is something I am truly proud to be part of.”

After nearly 25 years, Ricole is motivated by the people around her, including patients and coworkers, and the culture of mentorship and teamwork at Stewart Memorial. One of the most rewarding aspects of her work is seeing patients return after successful surgeries and knowing the care provided made a difference in their quality of life.

Stewart Memorial Community Hospital is proud to honor team members like Ricole Potts who exemplify its mission and core values through dedication, compassion, and excellence in rural healthcare.