Blue Mountain Health System honored over 100 employees Tuesday afternoon for their years of dedicated service to the hospital and community.

The organization is one of the largest employers in Carbon County with an estimated 800 workers on staff.During the 12th annual Blue Mountain Health System Employee Recognition Awards ceremonies, Andrew Harris, president and CEO of Blue Mountain Health System, thanked the employees who make up a critical part of the hospitals' operations."When you have 107 employees receiving awards and 13 are for over 30 years of service, it shows the dedication they have to the organization and the community," he said. "They really make a difference."Sylvia Goral, human resources director, was one of the employees recognized for her work at the health system over the past 35 years."It's a great place work," she said. "I was given a lot of opportunities here."The awards were held as part of Nurses Week, which concluded May 12 on the birthday of legendary nurse Florence Nightingale. Nightingale was a nurse in the 1800s whose writings sparked health care reform and is credited as the founder of modern nursing.Dorothy Patzek, vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer, quoted Nightingale, "I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate my profession."The staff at Blue Mountain takes the sentiment seriously, with over 15 members of the nursing staff given excellence awards in their field."It's truly amazing the way they are dedicated and loyal," Harris said. "They live in our community, and that's what people want when they're not feeling well, to see a familiar face."Vice Chairman Doctor Louis Sportelli followed Harris' remarks with his own story of witnessing the hard work of the hospital staff firsthand."It's just impressive in today's world where people move fast and don't have roots to see that kind of longevity. Blue Mountain Health System has roots. I couldn't be anymore impressed," he said. "We have a tremendous group of folks serving this community."Edith Berger is one of the examples Sportelli spoke of.Berger has worked for the health system for 40 years and missed the ceremony because of her scheduled night shift.In addition to years-of-service awards and nursing and support staff recognition, every year two members of the staff receive the Blue Ribbon Service Excellence Award. These people are nominated by a board of their peers to be recognized for their service and hard work.This year two lifesavers, Elisa Condon and Amy Sell, were given the award.Condon was volunteering during Palmerton's summer festival in the park when a 5-year-old child was brought to the first aid tent not breathing. Condon performed CPR while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Through her efforts the boy was revived."I was very surprised, I had no idea," Condon said of receiving the award.Amy Sell was driving through Mahoning Township on her way home from work when she saw a vehicle engulfed in flames. Sell stopped and pulled a woman from the fiery wreckage."It was very scary," she said. "When I called 911 I wasn't even sure what area to tell them I was in. I was in a panic."Lisa Johnson, vice president of public relations and marketing at Blue Mountain Health System, said she was not surprised by the heroism of either woman."Elisa was volunteering and Amy was on her way home from work and they both just jumped into action," she said. "That's what health care workers do, they take action."Carbon County Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein says he has been continually impressed by the staff of Blue Mountain."We've got such great talent in the county," he said.Nothstein added, "it's important to show employees they are appreciated. They are such a great asset to out community. They don't ask to be recognized but they appreciate it. And they should be recognized. Any time you have someone who stays with an employer that long, it shows what kind of person that is and who you want to work for the community.""It's important for the employees to feel valued," Johnson said. "Everyone from nursing to maintenance is what keeps us here."