Meet the Staff
Ms. Priscilla L. Hager
Executive Director
Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center (Phelps)
Priscilla Hager is the Executive Director at Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center. Originally beginning her work at Good Shepherd at its opening in October, 1979, through the years, Priscilla has worked in various positions from receptionist, medical records and billing to assistant administrator and knows the place “inside and out”. She places no limitation on her willingness to provide for her residents, so will do whatever is needed – whether drafting a letter or making a phone call to preparing a special dish for them or painting their rooms.
Priscilla worked for a variety of other entities who owned Good Shepherd prior to its purchase by Presbyterian Homes in 1995, and has welcomed the changes that have come in relationship with Presbyterian Homes. “The facility was completely remodeled, new furniture purchased, and additional parking made available to residents, staff, and visitors. Our facility has become a religious, nonprofit organization whose main goal was to fulfill a mission of providing compassionate care and superior service to those entrusted in our care. This is a mission we try to fulfill each day and feel blessed to be a part of an organization that puts action into their words.”
Priscilla is not the only one who invests 110% effort into her work. Her staff is fully invested as well. Together, they initiated an “Angel Program” to involve every resident and every staff member, to address resident need. The program was recognized by Health Care Excel – A Medicare Quality Improvement Organization in the Summer of 2004. Residents are “adopted” by an employee, and that employee spends a portion of their shift with that resident insuring that every need of that resident has been addressed for the day. Angel checks done by dietary staff and housekeeping staff have identified the need for nursing and physician intervention. At other times, the need may be more simple, the placing of a phone call, reading scripture, securing an additional blanket, adjusting the room temperature, etc.
Beyond the staff commitment, Priscilla writes, “We have a wonderful community that supports our work and helps us to achieve whatever mission that we undertake. Our churches provide leadership, inspiration, and direction for our residents and our staff.” Married to James Hager, a Supervisor for MHSA, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Priscilla and James have two children, Janelle White, a nurse at Pikeville Medical Center, and a son, James Hager, a family practice physician in Pike and Floyd Counties, and three wonderful grandchildren.
Patricia Elaine Hatfield
Director of Nursing
Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center (Phelps)
Patricia Elaine Hatfield has served as the Director of Nursing at Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center since 1995. Like Priscilla, though, she began her work at Good Shepherd long before as a nurse aide. Returning to school several times, Elaine became a Licensed Practical Nurse and eventually a Registered Nurse. During this past year, Elaine has continued to work, despite encountering her own health challenges. Having been diagnosed with colon cancer, she was too sick to come to work many days, however; she cites the staff and residents of Good Shepherd as her best support during her recovery. “We helped each other through my sickness. They became the reason I got out of bed each day. Without my family at Good Shepherd, I don’t think I could have made it through this difficult time in my life.”
Believing in the compassionate care and superior service of Good Shepherd, Elaine has brought her own family members to reside at Good Shepherd, including her aunts, uncles, grandfather, and mother. Her grandmother is currently a resident at Good Shepherd. Elaine will go even so far as to say, “If the need arises, I plan to be a resident at this facility also.” Why? “The staff at Good Shepherd really cares about our residents. They are elated when a resident progresses to independence, a better life inside our walls or the walls of their own homes if the progress enables them to return home. Our staff and our residents are one huge family, loving each other, caring for each other, and praying for each other.”
Ryan Gilbert
Chaplain
Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center (Phelps)
George Edward “Ryan” Gilbert became the new chaplain at Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center. Ryan, as he is known to the residents and staff at Good Shepherd, attended Transylvania University where he majored in English. He continued his studies at the University of Chicao Divinity School in Chicago completing his studies in June, 2008. In addition to being the chaplain at Good Shepherd, Ryan is also the associate pastor of youth at the First Presbyterian Church in Prestonsburg.
Ryan is married to the former Greta Hicks and they have one daughter, Amelia, age five months. Greta is the director of music at Prestonsburg High School. The Gilberts reside at Middle Creek in Floyd County.
Ryan enjoys baskerball, soccer, world percussion, and writing songs and poetry when he is not working. The residents and staff welcomes Ryan into our home at Good Shepherd.
