SOMERSET – When Lincoln County native Nick Bastin made the decision to attend Somerset Community College for the Physical Therapist Assistant program, he knew he was setting his career into motion; however, he didn’t realize that starting at SCC would launch him into his current position as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Compliance Officer at a place he loves.
Bastin, a 1997 graduate of Lincoln County High School, currently serves as the chief financial officer (CFO) at Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center, Inc. His career path began in 1999 when he graduated with an Associate in Applied Science with High Distinction from SCC. He began working at Rockcastle Regional as a physical therapist assistant and worked his way up, earning degrees in accounting from Eastern Kentucky University and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of the Cumberlands along the way.
“Benjamin Franklin made this comment in regards to education: ‘an investment in knowledge pays the best interest,’” Bastin said. “While education provides an avenue to increase our knowledge, it’s the opportunities and experiences it lends that creates so much value. Education is important because it can change your path in life and grants opportunities to make a difference and enrich the lives of others.”
Starting at SCC made financial sense for Bastin, he said, as well as provided the opportunity to remain close to home. He credits much of his success with what he learned at the community college level.
“Without my education and training from SCC, I would not have been afforded the experience and opportunities that I have gained in the past 17 years,” Bastin said. “For me, education has granted me so much more than an increase in knowledge base. My education at SCC paved the way for opportunities I did not know existed at the time. Those opportunities yielded a career in healthcare for me and allowed me to be a difference maker. Now, I have the chance to do more than just earn a pay check. At the end of the day, those of us in health care get to make a difference in someone’s life. Whether it’s a warm smile, a gentle touch or compassionate care, as healthcare providers we have an opportunity to make someone’s day a little brighter.”
In his current position as CFO and compliance officer, Bastin is responsible for the overall financial well-being of the hospital and care center’s financial planning, strategy, budgeting, investment management and revenue cycle management. He also provides supervision of accounting to the business office, health information, materials management and information services.
“I’m blessed to serve as CFO at a great organization that delivers exceptional patient care with a regional presence. Rockcastle Regional Hospital & Respiratory Care Center is a very progressive organization and our growth in services demonstrates our commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of this region,” Bastin said. “‘The Rock’ offers quality care close to home by physicians who don’t just know your medical diagnosis, they also know your name. The staff and culture here is tremendous and I hope to continue to serve as CFO so we can continue to make Rockcastle a great place for patients to receive care, employees to work and physicians to practice medicine.”
In his position, Bastin has the opportunity to work with others who have been trained at SCC and sees the community college as vital to the success of our region.
“In rural communities, and especially in our region, hospitals can serve as the economic engine for the community. The hospital is often the largest employer in a county, and without it, access to critical patient care is limited and hundreds of jobs and tax revenue is gone. SCC provides the skilled talent necessary with the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) and Registered Nursing (RN) programs for hospitals to continue to provide exceptional care in a local venue while adding additional tax revenue for local government entities,” Bastin said. “In 2017, ‘The Rock’ plans to expand our long term care ventilator program by 28 beds, which means we will add approximately 85 jobs to a total workforce of nearly 800 employees. Finding top nursing talent is critical to our success and would not be possible without SCC producing a talented pool of nurses.”
Bastin also credits his success to his family, his wife Melanie, who also works in health care as an occupational therapist, and children Caden, age 11, and Abby, age 8. In addition to his position at the hospital, Bastin owns and operates a 40-acre farm and raises beef cattle. He enjoys running and coaching his kids in soccer and baseball, as well as serving as a deacon at Pleasant View Baptist Church.
“Personally, I’m focused on embracing the moment with our children,” said Bastin. “At 11 and 8, we are becoming increasingly involved in athletic, educational, church activities and farming. While life can be a bit fast-paced, I’m trying to embrace the ride and make memories that last a lifetime.”