The Northeast Regional Council of the Alabama Hospital Association has released a list of one doctor and five other medical professionals as their “Hospital Heroes” for the year. Three of these, Dr. Stanley W. Jett, Medical Social Worker Patricia Kulovitz and Rodney Beasley, maintenance supervisor, live in Talladega and are affiliated with Baptist Medical Center.
According to the release announcing the list, all six “Hospital Heroes” were honored at a reception in Anniston.
The release lists Jett as a family practitioner and chairman of the Medicine Department at Citizens Baptist. He is also “a member of the hospital’s advisory committee. In addition to his service to the hospital, Jett is also an ordained minister. According to those who work with him, he demonstrates a kindness and generosity toward his patients that is inspirational. As a fellow employee recently said of him, ‘Through his testimony of care and compassion, Dr. Jett truly lives not only the mission of the Baptist Health System, but is answering God’s call to serve others.’ Dr. Jett is also one of the rare physicians who continues to make house calls. He is known to visit several home-bound patients, as well as provide care at two office locations in Munford and Lincoln. Dr. Jett’s commitment to serving others extends beyond his community as well. He is actively involved in mission teams that travel to Honduras to provide much-needed medical services to that area,” according to the release.
Kulovitz, the release says, is “a social worker at Citizens Baptist Medical Center, where her co-workers say she demonstrates unending compassion on a daily basis to the patients in her care. They are also quick to point out that she is the first to help a fellow employee, often volunteering to perform tasks outside her job description if it means helping the team get the job done. When it comes to her patients, Ms. Kulovitz is known to go above and beyond in meeting their needs. For example, she has helped two patients keep their homes from going into foreclosure, has paid for some patients’ lifelines out of her own pocket and has contributed to a monthly account at a local pharmacy to help patients get medications they may not be able to afford otherwise. ‘Patti is an inspiration to all she interacts with,’ a colleague said of her recently. ‘Her infectious, positive attitude and ability to put action behind emotional situations is a characteristic that she carries honorably.’”
Beasley “serves as the maintenance supervisor at Citizens Baptist Medical Center, where he has been employed for 26 years. During his tenure at the hospital, he has developed a reputation for going above and beyond in performing his duties. For example, his colleagues speak of a time when Citizens Baptist Medical Center had to operate nearly a week without water but was able to manage because Mr. Beasley worked around the clock to ensure the needs of the hospital were met. According to one of his co-workers, ‘A lot is expected and required of Rodney, and he does not shrink from investing himself in accomplishing what is asked of him. He has a huge job that would likely take more than one person if he were not so talented and tireless.’ As a department supervisor, he is sensitive to the time and travel associated with call backs to the hospital so when feasible, he will work from his home computer to manage tasks that will meet patient’s needs in a more timely and efficient manner,” according to the release.
The other winners this year were Jeff Rains, Northeast Regional Council president and CEO of Dekalb Regional Medical Center; Clemmie Gardner, RN, employee health and infection control nurse at Cherokee Medical Center and Becky Smith, RN, emergency department director at Cherokee Medical Center.
The reception was one of seven regional awards presentations being held as part of AlaHA’s 10th annual statewide “Hospital Hero” award contests, which recognizes the value of health careers and honors hospital employees who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the health care field, according to the release. The contest will culminate with a banquet in February where up to 10 of the regional winners will be honored as statewide Hospital Heroes. One statewide Hospital Physician Hero will also be recognized in February.
“AlaHA is honored to recognize those outstanding caregivers who go above and beyond the call of duty to help their co-workers and to make their patients feel special,” said J. Michael Horsley, fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and president of the Alabama Hospital Association. “These amazing individuals deserve to be called heroes not only because they are an inspiration to their colleagues, but also because they have raised the bar in terms of what it means to provide exceptional patient care.”
Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome.com
