Hendersonville Medical Center Announces 2006 Frist Humanitarian Award Recipients

HENDERSONVILLE, TN (April 9, 2007) – Peggy Swann, RN, was recently awarded Hendersonville Medical Center’s 2006 Employee Frist Humanitarian Award. This honor places Peggy in nomination for the nationwide 2006 Frist Humanitarian Award, the highest honor an employee or volunteer can receive within HCA, the parent company of Hendersonville Medical Center. Lynn Masacek was recently awarded Hendersonville Medical Center’s 2006 Volunteer Frist Humanitarian Award. This honor also places Lynn in nomination for the nationwide 2006 Frist Humanitarian Award.

The Frist Humanitarian Awards were created to recognize one employee and one volunteer at each HCA-affiliated facility who demonstrate extraordinary concern for the welfare and happiness of patients and their community. The Frist Humanitarian 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. National recipients will be honored in the spring at a reception at the company’s Nashville, Tenn., headquarters. Additionally, they each receive a bronze statue, a $5,000 gift to the charity of their choice, and a $5,000 cash gift.

Peggy Swann, RN, is pictured with Mike Esposito, CEO, receiving the 2006 Employee Frist Humanitarian Awards at Hendersonville Medical Center.

Peggy is a nurse in the Cardiac Rehab Department at Hendersonville Medical Center. She has been employed at the facility since January 2004. She assists with Phase 1, 2 and 3 of cardiac rehab patients. In her role, she strives to get every patient back to their normal lifestyle through helping them make lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise.

"Peggy always has the best interests of her patients in mind,” says Louise Collins, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services. “So much of the positive feedback we receive here in Cardiac Rehab is specifically attributable to her, either directly through her actions, or indirectly through the culture or caring and compassion she has helped to create."

Lynn Masacek, Volunteer, is pictured with Mike Esposito, CEO, receiving the 2006 Volunteer Frist Humanitarian Award at Hendersonville Medical Center.

Lynn has been a volunteer at Hendersonville Medical Center since February 1995. Currently, as a volunteer at the Information Desk in the front lobby of Hendersonville Medical Center, she has a ready smile and helping hand for visitors, family members and co-workers. Answering the busy "patient information" phones, assisting guests with directions and delivering flowers to patients are among her duties.

"Lynn always goes the extra mile, to not only meet our visitor needs, but to exceed their expectations,” said Marissa Murphy, Director of Marketing and Public Relations. “She is a wonderful spokesperson and representative for the volunteer program, both in the hospital and in the community."

“HCA is committed to delivering quality patient care. We are extremely proud to recognize Peggy and Lynn’s efforts on behalf of our patients and our community,” said Mike Esposito, CEO of Hendersonville Medical Center. “Their exemplary work and compassion sets a high standard for healthcare professionals. We’re proud to have them as part of our hospital family. Undoubtedly, our patients benefit from the kind of commitment to humanitarian concerns they demonstrates each day.”

Hendersonville Medical Center, part of the TriStar Health System, is a 110-bed community-based medical center with comprehensive medical and surgical programs including Obstetrics, Cardiology, Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery services. Fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Hendersonville Medical Center remains the only Accredited Chest Pain Center in Sumner County. Portland Medical Center, a facility of Hendersonville Medical Center, joined the TriStar Health System in April 2006 and together, we are proudly serving the healthcare needs of Sumner County.

For more information about the services offered and health plans accepted by Hendersonville Medical Center, Portland Medical Center or TriStar Health System, call MedLine at 342-1919, toll-free outside of Nashville at 1-800-242-5662, or visit the website at TriStarHealth.com