Jennifer Aaron, a patient experience representative at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, on Thursday received this year’s Piedmont Healthcare Promise360 President’s Award, which is given to the employee who goes above and beyond for patients, visitors or their co-workers.

Each month, Piedmont names a monthly Promise360 winner, who must be nominated by another employee, at each of its 11 hospitals, its Physician Enterprise and its System Office. Each entity then selects an annual winner. On Thursday, each of the 13 annual entity champions plus two spotlight winners from each entity gathered with their friends and family at a reception at Flourish Atlanta to crown the year’s champion from among Piedmont’s 22,000-plus employees.

The awards are given to those who best exemplify Piedmont’s purpose “to make a positive difference in every life we touch” and Piedmont’s values:

·         Championing Patient-Centered Care

·         Being an Owner

·         Embracing the Future

·         Exemplifying Teamwork & Connections

“The champions and spotlight winners deserve Piedmont’s thanks for all they do to care for our patients every day,” Piedmont President and CEO Kevin Brown said. “Jennifer is a shining example of what it means to live our values and to uphold our promise. Her actions do us all proud.”

Aaron’s story illustrates how she went above and beyond. A patient in cardiac arrest was brought in to Athens’s Emergency Room via EMS and was in critical condition. He had collapsed while out running and had only a key fob on him with no other identification.

Aaron contacted local police for help in identifying the man, but they could not begin a search for his vehicle without more information. So Jennifer took her lunch break and drove to the area near where he collapsed. She drove up and down the street clicking the key fob and waiting to see lights flashing, which helped her to identify his vehicle.

The police then were able to visit the patient’s house and learned that he lived alone. Jennifer returned to the hospital and did more research online, which enabled her to get in touch with the patient’s ex-wife and a niece who live out of state. She alerted them to his condition. The family was very appreciative and was able to make end of life decisions for him and make his final arrangements.

“Jennifer was a champion for that patient and his family that day,” said Piedmont Athens CEO Charles Peck, M.D. “I am proud of her and all of our employees who go above and beyond for our patients.”