Jean Hartnett Hired to Lead Douglas County Health Center

Jean Hartnett will never forget the time she worked as a certified nursing assistant during her early years of college. That’s when the Hubbard, Nebraska-native fell in love with taking care of seniors while learning about the front lines of care. “I had tasks such as bathing, dressing and toileting patients,” she said. “I learned there was a way to do those while keeping a person’s dignity and integrity intact. I realized it was a powerful gift to be able to do it. If I could do it, then perhaps I could teach or model that behavior for other people.”

Now with more than 15 years of health care administration experience, Hartnett has become the administrator of the Douglas County Health Center (dchc.douglascounty-ne.gov), effective June 19th with prior approval from the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. Hartnett will replace James Tourville, who retired after 24 years.

“She has the ability to come in and provide a fresh set of eyes and evaluate where improvements can be made,” said Douglas County Administrator Patrick Bloomingdale. “In addition to her extensive experience, her strong reputation in the healthcare industry and her connections within the Omaha community will be invaluable for Douglas County.”

Hartnett most recently worked as the executive director of Esprit Whispering Ridge in Omaha. She is an adjunct professor for the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s gerontology department and has taught long-term care administration at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.