DOTHAN, AL – Ten area hospital employees were honored for their dedication to the health care industry today at a luncheon in Dothan hosted by the Southeast Alabama Regional Hospital Council of the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA).
The luncheon is one of seven regional awards presentations being held in January as part of the association’s seventh-annual statewide “Hospital Heroes” contest, an effort to recognize the great accomplishments and compassion of hospital employees and to highlight health careers. The contest will culminate with a banquet in February where up to 10 of the regional winners will be honored as statewide heroes.
“If you’ve ever been in a hospital, chances are you’ve had a special caregiver who went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure your stay was not only productive, but comfortable,” said J. Michael Horsley, president of the Alabama Hospital Association. “It is these types of individuals we honor each year as Alabama’s Hospital Heroes, people who consider their work more than a job, who consider it a calling.”
Southeast Alabama honorees included: Carol Gordon-Brantley, RN, BSN, MSN, quality review clinician, Burnell Seals, RN, BSN, MHA, nursing supervisor, and Robert Wages, chief engineer, Flowers Hospital, Dothan; Mary Ann Bearman, RN, charge nurse, Medical Center Enterprise, Enterprise; Debbie Franklin, RN, MS, risk management, Cheryl Hampton, nursing administrative assistant, and Larry Jones, director of materials management, Mizell Memorial Hospital, Opp; Julia Bignoli, RN, critical care nurse, Steve Clayton, bio medical safety technician, and Liz English, RT(R), radiology supervisor, Southeast Alabama Medical Center, Dothan.
Carol Gordon-Brantley, RN, BSN, MSN, Quality Review Clinician, Flowers Hospital, Dothan
Carol Gordon-Brantley is a 34-year veteran of the health care system having practiced nursing in five states in a number of different specialties. She is characterized as being “committed to improving patient safety and quality before it was considered the hot topic in health care.” As a quality review clinician at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Ms. Gordon-Brantley is credited with helping Flowers Hospital achieve the number one ranking in the nation on Hospital Quality Measures, a standardized set of measures created by The Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Through Carol’s selfless pursuit of gaining and sharing knowledge, she has positively impacted the quality of care provided to our patients,” explained Amy Butler, chief quality officer. Ms. Gordon-Brantley received the Above and Beyond Award from AQAF, a statewide quality improvement organization and the Outstanding Staff Service Award from Flowers Hospital.
Burnell Seals, RN, BSN, MHA, Nursing Supervisor, Flowers Hospital, Dothan
Burnell Seals claims her nursing career began at the age of six when she cared for her sister who innocently swallowed half a bottle of her father’s pills. Now in her thirty-sixth year as a nurse, she serves as a nursing supervisor at Flowers Hospital in Dothan. Ms. Seals is described as viewing each day as an opportunity to have an impact on someone’s life. As a breast cancer survivor, she is very active with the American Cancer Society helping other women affected by the disease. She strives for excellence, completing her master’s degree in health administration while going through chemotherapy, losing two parents and working full time. Ms. Seals received the Outstanding Nursing Practice Award from the Alabama State Nursing Association and has received numerous employee awards at Flowers Hospital. “Burnell is a consummate professional with an innate ability to hold those around her to a high standard,” said Dan Cumbie, chief nursing officer at Flowers Hospital. “Burnell has earned the respect of physicians and employees who know she expects the best care for our patients.”
Robert Wages, Chief Engineer, Flowers Hospital, Dothan
Robert Wages, chief engineer of plant operations at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, spends his days ensuring the hospital’s environment is working properly so doctors, nurses and other caregivers can do their jobs. Hired by Flowers Hospital in 1978 as an electrician, Mr. Wages understands the importance of his “behind the scenes” position at the hospital; it is said he knows the location of every valve, pipe and circuit breaker in the hospital. He is respected for his logic and calmness during emergency situations, his desire for excellence (having achieved eight different types of engineering certifications), and his unparalleled dedication to those around him. Co-workers state he worked 60 hours straight to repair a broken phone system and during a major reconstruction project he worked every day of the year, only taking a little more than a week’s break. “I can truly say that Robert places Flowers Hospital’s staff, patients and guests second only to his own family,” said Aaron Smith, director of plant operations. “No matter how complex the project or how critical the failure, Robert’s focus is on our mission to serve people.”