Coulterville's Mueller named Director of Nursing of the Year

The Illinois Health Care Association (IHCA) recently named Linda Mueller, of Coulterville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, Director of Nursing of the Year.

The annual award recognizes outstanding individuals who work in Illinois long-term care centers and, through their compassion, make a positive difference in the lives of the residents they serve.

Winners were announced at the 67th Annual IHCA Convention & Expo in Peoria this fall. IHCA award recipients are nominated by their peers, and nursing award winners are chosen by the Long-Term Care Nurses Association Council.

Coulterville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center is owned by Tutera Senior Living & Health Care.

"We are proud of Linda Mueller's unwavering dedication to residents," said Joe Tutera, chief executive officer of Tutera Senior Living & Health Care in a news release. "This prestigious award reflects her outstanding leadership at Coulterville Rehabilitation & Health Care to ensure Tutera is consistently delivering the highest levels of quality care to residents in Illinois."

Mueller has more than 30 years of nursing experience and joined Coulterville Rehabilitation & Health Care as director of nursing in 2002.

Coulterville is a Medicare 5-star facility, a quality measure Mueller oversees. She also holds certificates in gerontology and rehabilitation/restorative nursing and is trained as an emergency medical technician, emergency rescue technician and a certified nursing assistant instructor.

"Besides her exceptional clinical skills, Linda is a calming presence in the community and works tirelessly to ensure residents are happy and healthy," said Whitney Oberlink, administrator at Coulterville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center and who nominated Mueller for the award. "Linda treats residents like guests in her own home. She is a role model, respected leader and consistently worthy of the IHCA's Director of Nursing of the Year award."

Mueller also champions Tutera's "YOUNITE" philosophy, which challenges its senior communities across the country to ask, listen, create and implement innovative ways to respond to individual preferences.

"The award recognizes Linda's passion for the nursing profession and her commitment to meeting the needs of residents and their families in ways that are personally meaningful to them." said Dr. Randy Bloom, chief operating officer of Tutera.

In addition to its 5-star Medicare quality rating, Coulterville was awarded the 2016 Bronze "Commitment to Quality" Award from the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), the leading association for long term and post-acute care.

The AHCA/NCAL award recognized Coulterville for its dedication and commitment to quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities.