Abbeville Area Medical Center has implemented a new employee recognition program called “Stars and Champions.” The program is an effort to recognize the many ways AAMC staff members go above and beyond their job duties to help others.
The “Star” award, which is given on a monthly basis, allows employees to nominate individuals who "shine" like stars by performing very specific kind acts that benefit physicians, patients and fellow employees.
In December, all “Star” nominations will be reviewed by a committee and a “Champion” chosen. The “Champion” award will be given to the individual that has made the biggest impact.
Cathy Hodges, RN, who is from Ware Shoals, was named AAMC’s first “Star” recipient in July. Her nomination read: “Cathy drove a patient and his wife and child home to McCormick in the pouring rain after working 12 hours. She spent her time and gas to make sure the entire family got home safely.”
In August there were four “Stars” named.
Nicole Lollis of Williamston, an employee in the Environmental Services department, was nominated for “rearranging her schedule to work a weekend that she would be off with her family to ensure that the office was clean and ready for opening day on Monday. Nicole always does things with a positive attitude and a smile that always brightens your day.”
Shannon Rodgers, RN, of Abbeville, an ICU/Med-Surg nurse, received a nomination for “coming in at 9:30pm on her day off…to change a wound vac dressing. She had to be back at work at 7:00am the following day. Shannon is always willing to go the extra mile for her patients and co-workers.”
Rene Ellis of Abbeville, an Abbeville Surgical employee, was nominated for “taking a patient home on her lunch hour that otherwise would have had to walk 4 to 5 miles.”
Andrea Schreier, RRT of Abbeville, a Respiratory Care staff member “made a milkshake for a patient who wasn’t eating well and sat in the room and visited with the patient while she drank it. No one asked her to do this. She took it upon herself to go the extra mile for this patient.”
Two “Stars” were named in September.
Grace Gordon of Iva, Food and Nutrition Services employee, was nominated for “helping a co-worker in her time of need. She took an employee to the doctor and then the hospital when she was sick. Grace came to the hospital before she had to go to work and fixed the employee’s hair. She also went to the employee’s house while she was sick and helped do housework and made sure she had meals. Grace is a good employee and an inspiration as a friend.”
Terri Cottle of Greenwood, Health Related Home Care (HRHC) nurse, received a nomination for “coordinating two projects recently for HRHC patients. Both projects involved complex home, family, and patient situations. The first was moving a patient who was confined to bed to a larger room in his home. This patient had a lot of medical and personal items that also had to be moved. Terri volunteered to do this on her day off.
The second was with a patient who had many health and hygiene issues where he was currently residing. Terri coordinated efforts to remove the existing carpet and replace it with new flooring, again, volunteering on her day off.
Terri is one of our most experienced and compassionate nurses. She is always looking for ways to improve her patients’ quality of life.”
In October four more “Stars” were named.
Laura Baughman, RN, Employee Health and Infection Control Nurse/Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, was nominated for “going above and beyond her job when she helped an employee on a weekend after her son was bitten by a raccoon while on vacation in the mountains of Tennessee. He went to the ER in Tennessee and was given a prescription for the rabies vaccine but had no luck finding it in our area. Not only was Laura helpful, she was very knowledgeable of the who, what, when, where, how, and why the employee was having such a hard time getting this vaccination. Just when the family felt like the walls were closing in on them, Laura secured the vaccine and had it ready by the time the employee came to work on Monday.”
Juan Bonetti, MD, Pediatrician at Abbeville Family Medicine Associates, received a nomination for “driving one of his patients to the lab from his office to have blood drawn. He stayed with the child while the child’s mother went to registration and even helped to hold the child during the phlebotomy procedure.”
Christel Parnell, Executive Administrative Assistant, “recently had a yard sale, boxed the leftover items and drove them to Greenville to deliver them to a hospital employee’s family member whose home had recently burned. She took her Saturday to show this family her big heart. Not only does Christel go above and beyond her call of duty in her job on a daily basis, but she does it in the community as well. She definitely is a shining star at AAMC as well as in the community.”
Jennifer Simmons, RN, Health Related Home Care Nurse, received her nomination for an extraordinary act of kindness after the passing of an employee’s grandfather for whom she cared during his illness. The family “wanted to donate his clothing to needy patients and Jennifer volunteered to take his shirts and find a good home for them. She knew how dear ‘the little things’ were to the family and the memory of the employee’s grandfather so she decided to spend her time outside of work to make something that would last a lifetime. Recently, she surprised the employee’s father with a handmade patchwork quilt (sewn by her) using swatches of the shirts and decorated with the buttons from the shirts. The family could never thank her enough for spending hours of her gracious time to present them with this gift. She will forever be an angel and is truly a ‘STAR’ of this wonderful organization.”
November brought two more AAMC “Stars.”
Ashley McClinton, CNA, a staff member at Abbeville Surgical, “coordinated a food drive for the local food bank. She made all the collection boxes and decorated them. She picked up the food from each department and delivered it to the food bank. She rewarded the department with the most food by paying for a pizza party for them. Ashley’s efforts will impact many people. Ashley did all this on her own time and spent her own money to pay for this.”
Cathi Gordon, RT (R) (M), a radiology department employee “brought a patient around that had been in x-ray all morning and gave him money to buy lunch because the patient had not eaten and had no money. ‘It was so touching to see one of our own do such a kind act. She is our star and sets a good example to us all and our patients here at Abbeville Area Medical Center.’ ”
And in December three more “Stars” were named.
Pam Baughman, RT (R) (M), a radiology department staff member coordinated a fundraiser for an employee. “When an employee was diagnosed with uterine cancer in August of 2008, she had to be off work for a minimum of 3 months. She only had enough sick time for one week. Pam called the patient asked if she could coordinate a large yard sale benefit to assist with the employee’s expenses. The benefit was a huge success with yard sale items filling the civic center from front to back with five rows of tables and items on the floor. She also coordinated a hot dog, pizza, chip and drink sale along with cakes, cookies, and boiled peanuts and a silent auction. Pam asked many hospital staff members to assist in the event. Pam and her husband also provided pick up of donated items.”
Mary Goodman, Business Office Employee, was nominated for “always lending a helping hand to our patients and staff. One day she found out that one of our patients could be discharged if they had the money to have their medicine filled. Through her efforts Mary found an agency that would pay for this patient’s medication. After her hours at work Mary went and picked up the medication and brought it back to the hospital so the patient could go home.”
Jeannie Capps, Business Office – “A patient was going to Rehab for four to six weeks and had no one to take care of his cat. Jeannie agreed to take care of the cat until the patient was able to come home from Rehab. Thank you, Jeannie, for being this special pet’s ‘foster Mom!’”
“The many heartfelt ways our employees and physicians help others is just incredible,” said AAMC CEO, Rich Osmus. “I am very proud to be a member of the AAMC family.” | Center, Cathy Hodges, RN
Center, Nicole Lollis
Second from left, Shannon Rodgers, RN
Center, Rene Ellis
Center, Andrea Schreier, RRT
Second from left, Grace Gordon
Second from left, Terry Cottle, RN
Second from left, Laura Baughman, RN
Second from right, Juan Bonetti, MD
Center, Christel Parnell
Second from right, Jennifer Simmons, RN
Second from right, Ashley McClinton, CNA
Center, Cathi Gordon, RT (R) (M)
Second from right, Pam Baughman, RT (R) (M)
Second from right, Mary Goodman
Second from right, Jeannie Capps |