Parkridge Health System Announces 2009 Frist Humanitarian Award Recipients

May 21, 2010 - Parkridge Health System recently announced the winners of its 2009 Frist Humanitarian Awards which are presented annually to an employee, a physician and a volunteer at each of the Parkridge hospitals. Volunteer recipients were Mary Rook from Parkridge East and Rita Salloga from Parkridge Medical Center. Employee recipients were Kay Neal from Parkridge East Hospital, Leslie Whittenburg, an oncology nurse from Parkridge Medical Center and Terry Davis, a mental health technician in the Child and Adolescent program at Parkridge Valley. Physician recipients were Dr. Hal Hill from Parkridge Medical Center, Dr. Michael Seeber at Parkridge East Hospital, and Dr. Susan McGuire from Parkridge Valley Hospital. Each of the honorees received a certificate and a cash award.

The Frist Humanitarian Awards were created to recognize one employee, one physician and one volunteer at each HCA-affiliated facility who demonstrates extraordinary concern for the welfare and happiness of patients and the community. The awards are given annually in recognition of the humanitarian spirit and philanthropic work of the late Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., a founder of HCA. Local recipients of this honor were also eligible for consideration for the national 2009 Frist Humanitarian Award. The national Frist award is the highest honor an employee or volunteer can receive within HCA (Hospital Corporation of America), the parent company of Parkridge Health System. Recipients of the national Frist Humanitarian award are honored in the spring with a reception at the company’s Nashville headquarters.

“As part of HCA, the hospitals of Parkridge Health System are committed to delivering quality patient care. We are extremely proud to recognize these recipients for their efforts on behalf of our patients and our community,” said Darrell Moore, President and CEO of Parkridge Health System. “Their commitment and compassion set a high standard for healthcare professionals throughout our organization. We’re proud to have them as part of our employee/volunteer family. Undoubtedly, our patients benefit from the kind of commitment to humanitarian concerns they demonstrate each day.”

I am very proud to present these awards,” said Richard Bracken, Chairman and CEO of HCA. These recipients are an inspiration to all our employees and volunteers. Their generosity and dedication serve as a living example of HCA’s commitment to the care and improvement of human life.”

Parkridge Health System is a multi-campus facility which includes Parkridge Medical Center, Parkridge East Hospital and Parkridge Valley. Parkridge Medical Center, our main campus on McCallie Avenue, offers comprehensive acute care services including cardiology, oncology at our Commission on Cancer approved Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, complete surgical services including the first robotics surgery program in the region, award-winning orthopaedics, and Emergency Services Department designated as an Accredited Chest Pain Center.  Parkridge East Hospital is a full service hospital located in East Ridge providing the best in obstetrics including Neonatal Intensive Care, surgical services including robotics, orthopaedics, and gynecological procedures, as well as an Emergency Services Department also designated as an Accredited Chest Pain Center.   Parkridge Valley, our behavioral health facility, offers mental health services for children, adolescents and adults as well as treatments for addictive disorders.  We are a family of hospitals for your family. To learn more, visit www.ParkridgeMedicalCenter.com or contact MedLine at (800) 242-5662.