Here is a list of our most recent Values Award Winners. Join us in celebrating these outstanding team members!
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Let’s give a huge round of applause and celebrate these extraordinary team members for earning the highest, pinnacle award at Augusta Health! You inspire us all, truly embodying The Augusta Health Way and making an incredible impact on everyone around you!
But that’s not all—stay tuned for upcoming announcements and events where we’ll further recognize these wonderful team members. Their inspiring nomination stories will be shared soon, so don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about the amazing impact…
Administrative Director Women’s Health
Emergency Management Coordinator
Cancer Center Program Coordinator
Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant
Director Data Science and Governance
Senior Organizational Development Consultant
Chargemaster Specialist
Director Case Management and Social Work
Surgical Technologist
Resource Clinician Coordinator
Join us in celebrating these outstanding team members that continue to live out our Augusta Health values daily. You inspire us as you continue to rise to the occasion: embracing change, staying resilient and focusing on how we together can help our patients, our community and each other.
Chrissey Allen exemplifies compassion and exceptional care through her daily interactions. In just one week, she showcased her commitment in three significant ways. First, when a hernia surgery patient arrived late with concerning shortness of breath, Chrissey promptly checked their vitals, revealing low oxygen levels. Her swift action alerted the pre-op nurse and anesthesia provider, ensuring the patient received urgent care, including an ABG test that showed alarming results. Second, when a pediatric dental patient was late, causing confusion for another family, Chrissey calmly explained the situation, offered snacks and set up activities for the children, easing their stress. Lastly, she provided comfort to an orthopedic surgery patient who delayed their procedure by eating. She checked in frequently and alleviated their anxiety with activity books and support. These examples highlight Chrissey’s unwavering dedication to patient-centered care, making a profound impact in just one week.
Keri Sims embodies our values through her exceptional kindness and care for patients, particularly those relying on public transportation or facing challenging days. Many patients often wait for hours after therapy, leading to discomfort and stress. Keri consistently goes above and beyond to support them. She frequently stays with patients until their rides arrive, ensuring they feel safe and not alone, and provides wheelchairs to transport them to more comfortable waiting areas. Keri also takes the initiative to contact public transportation, ensuring drivers are aware of patients' pick-up needs. She’s even purchased water for those struggling to afford it, especially on hot days, showcasing her compassion. Her dedication to assisting those who cannot advocate for themselves reflects her deep care for patients. Keri is a valuable asset to our team and truly deserves recognition for her unwavering support and commitment to helping others.
If you’re looking for a warm welcome or a bright smile, look no further than Chuck Taylor. His friendliness and positivity shine for all, especially during the pandemic, when many faced significant changes. Transitioning from valet to security guard, Chuck's essential qualities remained constant. Chuck’s empathy shines in every interaction, making him not just a teammate but a true supporter of those around him. His approachable demeanor creates a comforting atmosphere for patients, guests and teammates alike. Chuck always is ready to lend a helping hand or provide a listening ear. Whether assisting a lost patient or encouraging a stressed teammate, he embodies a spirit of service that inspires everyone around him. By simply being himself, Chuck teaches us how to engage compassionately with others. His dedication to fostering a positive environment and commitment to helping others make him an invaluable asset and shows us what care really means.
Megan Howell has made significant contributions in various roles. Starting as a patient navigator in the cancer center, her later roles focused on process improvement and meaningful use. This year, she completed her master’s in nursing and participated in a leadership program through Greater Augusta. Megan has taken the initiative to mentor teammates, fostering a culture of growth and collaboration. She’s led efforts to increase advanced directives, ensuring patients’ preferences are respected. Additionally, she plays a vital role on our internal audit team for DNV, where her insights help maintain high care standards. Megan also has enhanced the team’s understanding of Vizient, improving operational efficiency. In May, she presented our achievements in meaningful use at a Colorado conference alongside Medisolve, showcasing our team's efforts. Despite her busy schedule, Megan always assists colleagues with their projects. Her dedication to professional growth and commitment to our mission inspires those around her.
Jaime Grant-Orebaugh tirelessly supports patients and ensures the smooth operation of the breast center. She engages in every aspect of breast care, using her leadership and expertise to enhance service quality. Jaime prioritizes her teammates’ development, mentoring them to create a cohesive and effective team. Her collaborative spirit fosters an environment where everyone feels supported and empowered to deliver the best care. What truly sets Jaime apart is her unwavering compassion for patients. She greets them daily with warmth and empathy, ensuring they feel valued during challenging times. Her ability to connect personally with patients significantly enhances their experience at the breast center. By combining her expertise with genuine concern for others, Jaime not only improves patient care but also contributes to a positive work environment. Her tireless efforts and compassionate approach serve as an inspiring example, demonstrating the profound impact one individual can have.
Carla McDonnell is an exceptional leader who prioritizes her team’s well-being. She consistently steps in to alleviate stress, taking on tasks to ensure her team feels supported. During monthly meetings, Carla adapts to her team’s needs, allowing time for backlogged work when there’s less to discuss, providing an appreciated opportunity to destress. Her willingness to assist is evident daily; she covers phones when the team is short-staffed and helps with outstanding work. Carla also has played a key role in preparing the third-floor expansion, ensuring both patients and her team have everything needed for an efficient clinic. Her attention to detail, combined with managing her own clinical duties, showcases her dedication. Carla encourages engagement and training, fostering a collaborative atmosphere by involving the team in decision-making. Balancing competency with a personal touch, she creates a positive team environment and continuously strives to support her team and enhance patient care.
Earlier this year, Megan Broce reached out to the cancer services team to learn about managing and referring patients for lymphedema care, particularly for breast oncology patients. As an occupational therapist, she was eager to collaborate with the cancer center and breast surgery teams to improve education and resources for patients. After an initial meeting, Megan updated the Activity and Exercise Guidelines Post-Mastectomy Handout to include the latest clinical guidelines, ensuring all breast surgeons reviewed and approved it. As a result of her initiative, patients needing an overnight stay after mastectomy now receive personalized occupational therapy consultations for lymphedema management before discharge. Megan actively seeks additional needs within the acute care setting where her oncology care certification can be applied. She effectively collaborates across departments, prioritizing open communication to ensure multidisciplinary teams work together seamlessly. Her commitment to enhancing patient care and fostering teamwork significantly impacts our organization.
In a touching display of compassion, Claire Meyers faced a challenging situation in the ICU when a palliative care patient expressed a wish to get married. With little hope of returning home, Claire and the ICU team quickly organized a wedding for the next morning. To make the occasion special, Claire reached out to the catering team, initially requesting cupcakes. In a heartwarming response, they provided a beautifully decorated cake adorned with fresh fruit. On the wedding day, the patient married their beloved, surrounded by family in pajamas, creating an atmosphere of love and comfort. Claire and the team worked diligently to move the patient to a larger room and decorate it for the celebration. This collaborative effort exemplified The Augusta Way, showcasing the dedication of our teams. It’s an honor to work alongside compassionate teammates who strive to make a difference in patients' lives during their most challenging moments.
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This award is given to nurses who demonstrate qualities of compassion, teamwork, knowledge and excellence. These nurses exhibit high levels of professionalism, clinical expertise, excellence in patient care, fosters patient-centered care, leads by example, and acts as a mentor and role model to other staff. RNs and LPNs are eligible for the Nurse of the Year award.
This award is given to individuals who are registered nurse leaders. They role model caring behavior, display professionalism at all times and have a passion for nursing excellence. These individuals exhibit a strong leadership image that focuses on providing patient-centered care. These leaders ensure a healthy dynamic environment that is healing and support empowered professional practice, which improves quality patient care. Charge nurses, clinical coordinators, nurse managers, nurse educators, nursing directors, RN office managers, and those in nursing leadership roles are eligible for the Nurse Leader of the Year award.
Recipients of this award must be dependable and patient focused, and work well with the team while advocating for their patients. They must be invested in Augusta Health’s core values. They might also be involved in unit improvement measures that promote patient satisfaction and increase unit morale. PCTs, CNAs, EMTs, MHWs, CMAs and clerical roles are eligible for this award.
Several awards are presented to hospital team members who support the nursing mission at Augusta Health. Hospital team members outside of the nursing division are eligible for this award.
Download the Great Work app from either the Google Play Store or your Apple App Store and start the 1-time pairing process to have access to send eCards to celebrate any of your team members at any time.
Discover our brand-new “Spirit of Augusta Health” Facebook page!
We’ve got another exciting way to celebrate our team members and flaunt our Augusta Health pride. Come join the fun on our exclusive Facebook page just for our team members!
Celebrate with us as we showcase photos from our recent team member events, dedicated to celebrating YOU. We appreciate your commitment to each other, our patients, and the Augusta Health community. Thank you for embodying the Augusta way!
