HMH Board of Trustees, Hardin County Chamber CEO honor HMH switchboard operator

HMH Board of Trustees, Hardin County Chamber CEO honor HMH switchboard operator
Mary Manson’s selfless act personifies caring nature of HMH team

Elizabethtown, Ky. – The Hardin Memorial Health Board of Trustees honored an HMH switchboard operator for the support she lent Hardin County Chamber of Commerce CEO Brad Richardson this past fall. Mary Manson was named December’s HMH ambassador.

Richardson nominated Manson after she came to his aide on the side of a Rineyville road during a bike ride. The chamber executive attended the Board meeting to personally thank Manson and present her with flowers.

Richardson was 52 miles into the Hub City Tour this past September when his legs quit working and he collapsed, exhausted on the side of the road, he said.

“I was lying on my back. I couldn’t stand up and I heard a woman’s voice asking me if I’d been hit by a car and if she needed to call an ambulance. I told her I was OK and just needed a few minutes for my legs to stop cramping.”

Richardson said before he knew it, Manson had grabbed his bike and put it in her van. She then helped Richardson into the vehicle and gave him a ride to Rineyville Elementary, where he met his wife.

“I won’t forget her caring and concern and since care is what HMH is all about, I thought it would be great to recognize her,” said Richardson. “I’m so glad I can be here today to say thank you.”

HMH CEO Dennis Johnson, who announced Manson’s selection as the Ambassador of the Month, called her a shining example of the HMH team’s caring nature.

“It doesn’t matter if they are at work or just out in the community on their day off, our employees are what makes HMH so special,” said Johnson.

Board Chairman and Hardin County Judge Executive Harry Berry echoed Johnson’s sentiment.

“It’s the HMH way,” said Berry. “Mary exemplifies what makes HMH so special. Our people are not only highly skilled, they do whatever it takes to provide care.”

In other board news.

• Financials. The board also approved financial reports for November and December. Through December, HMH has an operating income of $5.2 million compared to a projected income of $6.1 million ($900,000 below plan). HMH Chief Financial Officer Lennis Thompson pointed to continued strong outpatient volumes as a major factor in HMH’s positive financial performance.

• Ambassadors. In addition to Manson, HMH named registered nurse Lisa Hopper January’s HMH Ambassador of the Month. A patient nominated Hopper for the care she provided during the patient’s hospital stay, calling her “the perfect example of what quality care should be.”

• Daisy Award. HMH’s Morgan Fields received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses for November. Her nomination noted her willingness to go above and beyond for her patients including ordering dinner for a family who didn’t want to leave the bedside of their dying loved one.  HMH registered nurse Marilynn Barr received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses for December. The spouse of one of Barr’s patients nominated her for the care she provided his wife following emergency surgery.

• Honey Bee. HMH Patient Care Assistant Marva Francis received the Honey Bee Award which recognizes and celebrates nursing support staff. Francis’ co-workers nominated her, indicating patients regularly recognize her caring positive nature. Patients say Francis spends time at the bedside making personal connections from braiding hair to holding the patient’s hand, to singing songs.