For many years, the Nebraska Hospital Association has been honored to bestow awards to Nebraska health care employees who have risen to the top by providing service excellence and dedication to their profession. These award recipients commit themselves to the betterment of their hospitals and health systems, their customers, their co-workers, and their communities.

Michael Pracheil is the recipient of the NHA's "The Caring Kind" Award and will be honored at a luncheon at the NHA conference on October 27 in LaVista.

Pracheil served Gothenburg Health for seven years as Chief Financial Officer; in 2023 he transitioned to Strategic Financial Executive.  When Michael started as CFO in March of 2016, he not only brought his financial knowledge but also his leadership, mentoring and passion for community service.  Michael has a unique viewpoint with healthcare finances as he is always advocating for the patient first, addressing financial concerns second.  His personal experiences with healthcare motivate his drive to improve the system.

Pracheil serves his community by assisting with meals on wheels, holiday meal boxes, Harvest Festival, and providing AV technology for community events. He has been a member of the Rotary club, was a past Rotary President and also served as a mentor for the Teammates program for years. Above all else, Michael is always there to listen and provide support to anyone who may be in need.

2023 marks 44 years of the NHA “The Caring Kind” Awards Luncheon. The NHA has honored over 2,800 of Nebraska’s most caring and dedicated hospital and health system employees.