Employee Profiles

The success of every organization depends on its people. Whether they're at the bedside or playing a critical support role, our employees make us who we are. From small gestures — such as friendly words, a smile and holding a hand — to grander ones, our employees are heroes to our patients and their families.

We'd like to tell you about some of our heroes...

ARH Announces 2008 Frist Humanitarian Award Recipients

Congratulations to Sally Putnam and Charlotte Smith for being named the 2008 Frist Humanitarian Award Winners at Alleghany Regional Hospital!

The Frist Award, named after the late Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., a founder of HCA, is given in recognition of individuals who demonstrate a level of commitment to community service above and beyond their daily work and contribution to patient care. Through extraordinary acts of kindness, they demonstrate remarkable concern for the welfare and happiness of others, and their contributions are often overshadowed due to their personal modesty and genuine humility. And above all, they make the world a better place, inspiring others to get involved by caring for the community and others in need.

Sally Putnam is a social worker in the case management department; her nomination cited her tireless volunteer work serving with the local Community Services Board to meet the needs of those with mental health and substance abuse problems, her work with the state legislature, and her heavy involvement in educating the public through various speaking engagements and health fairs. One highlight from the nomination reads, "Sally is the community face of our hospital and her name is synonymous with Alleghany Regional Hospital."

This year's volunteer honoree, Charlotte Smith, was cited for her numerous volunteer activities in her church and with agencies such as the Leukemia Society, the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, the Roanoke Memorial Mended Hearts Association, and more. To quote comments from her nomination, "Charlotte is a very modest and humble person. She always has a smile on her face and is truly a 'Lady of Grace'."

Both of these deserving ladies received a framed award certificate, a check for $250 and a $250 donation made in their name to the charity of their choice.

Even though only one person was awarded in each category, it is an extreme honor to be nominated in that it shows that the nominee is held in high esteem by their peers. Other nominees for the award included Catherine Simpson (a past Frist Award winner), Zina Brown, Barbara Wolfe, Diane Kouns, and Alice Tucker.

Ashley Seabolt, Pillar of Excellence

Ashley Seabolt, Radiologic Technologist in the Radiology Department, recently received ARH's "Pillar of Excellence Award", which was designed to recognize staff members who distinguish themselves by providing exceptional levels of service and quality work, exemplifying the spirit of teamwork, achieving consistently high levels of job performance, and demonstrating exceptional levels of reliability and dependability.

In her nominations, Ashley was commended for

• consistently producing high-quality radiographs
• being kind and caring
• treating each patient as if they were her family
• volunteering immediately to cover shifts when asked by her supervisors or fellow techs
• coming to work every day with a smile on her face
• always being a pleasure to be around
• organizing events in Radiology and making sure each person feels special on their birthday
• being eager to help others
• going above and beyond her job duties to make sure patients are cared for

Pam Hall, Pillar of Excellence

Pam Hall, Case Management Team Leader, is the most recent recipient of ARH's "Pillar of Excellence Award", which was designed to recognize staff members who distinguish themselves by providing exceptional levels of service and quality work, exemplifying the spirit of teamwork, achieving consistently high levels of job performance, and demonstrating exceptional levels of reliability and dependability.

Pam’s nomination reads: “It has been my pleasure to work with Pam on several task forces which she chaired as well as being a member. When given a task she ensures that all parties involved have a clear understanding of what’s expected from their designated departments as well as continual follow-up to ensure we remain on target after implementation.

"She has high standards for herself which are shown each day in the way she conducts herself in a professional manner, supervises those directly under her and goes the extra mile to ensure patients have the quality of care which they desire as well as ensuring the facility receives all reimbursement we’re entitled to through the appeals process. Whenever I’ve contacted her for assistance she eagerly listens and offers her input to resolve coding/billing/appeal issues with me. Pam is a great asset not only to the facility but for the patients as well."

Joan McCrae, Nurse of the Year

Joan McCrae, ICU, has been named 2008 Nurse of the Year. Joan graduated from Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in 2005 and then accepted a position in ARH's ICU/PCU, where she has remained since. She previously worked in the nursing field in Scotland from 1983 to 1990. In her nominations, her peers described her as a delight to work with and noted that she is well thought of by the physicians and her coworkers. "If she doesn't know how to do something," read one nomination, "she finds out how to do it and shares it with others."

Fred Haxton

"Pharmacy Fred" is a hero to the ARH Pharmacy Department: On July 2, 2008, the department recognized Fred for going above and beyond his normal duties by helping to maintain normal pharmacy hours during an unexpected staff shortage recently. Wayne Botkins, Pharmacy Team Leader, said Fred "has been extremely pleasant to work with and accommodating in staffing, while at the same time learning our system here after transferring from Lewis Gale Hospital."