John Bondhus was recently promoted to assistant chief nursing officer of Levi Hospital and clinical informatics specialist.
Bondhus joined the staff of Levi in the summer of 2021 as a floor nurse. He received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Arkansas. When Levi Hospital began the process of converting to an electronic health record system, Bondhus "was very instrumental in the implementation and training of staff," a news release said.
"Throughout my career in the military, I saw many people that could have benefited from mental health services but didn't reach out due to the stigma that surrounds admitting you suffer from mental illness. I went into this field to try to give a voice to those in need and reach those who are scared to reach out themselves. With this new opportunity I hope to be able to provide a safe environment for those in Hot Springs and the surrounding area that are struggling and need our help," Bondhus said in the release.
Keri Crenshaw, chief operating officer for Levi, was instrumental in his selection as assistant CNO.
"John Bondhus is very sharp. He is a quick learner, organized, and he works well with a team. All these characteristics made him a good fit for our EHR team leader. As a result of that role, he had built a relationship with almost every nurse that we have. This made for an easy transition into the assistant director role for nursing services," Crenshaw said in the release.
Levi Hospital has been serving Hot Springs and the surrounding area for well over 100 years.
"As a long-term health care provider, Levi strives to 'Heal Mind & Body' and provide the best possible outcome so that patients can live their best life. If you are worried about someone, assume you are the only one who will reach out. Talk to them in private and tell them you care. Listen to their story. Avoid debating the value of life, minimizing their problems, or giving advice. It's OK to ask directly about suicide or other mental health problems. Encourage them to seek help or to contact their doctor or therapist," the release said.
For more information on how Levi Hospital can help, visit http://www.levihospital.com.