For Immediate Release:  Jan. 3, 2008
Contact:  Rosemary Blackmon, (800) 489-2542

BIRMINGHAM – Seven Birmingham-area hospital employees were honored for their dedication to the health care industry today at a luncheon hosted by the Birmingham Regional Council of the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA).

The luncheon is one of seven regional awards presentations being held as part of the association’s fifth-annual statewide “Hospital Heroes” contest, an effort to honor the dedication 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.

Birmingham-area honorees included:  Anne Allen, director of pharmacy, Walker Baptist Medical Center, Jasper;  Cheri Brooker, RN, BSN, St. Vincent’s Birmingham, Birmingham; Karen Cooper, RN, BSN, director of quality improvement, Physicians Medical Center Carraway, Birmingham; Walter Solomon, CPhT, pharmacy technical supervisor, UAB Hospital, Birmingham; Louise Standridge, RN, director of epidemiology, Physicians Medical Center Carraway, Birmingham; Michelle Winborn, catering attendant, Physicians Medical Center Carraway, Birmingham; and Carolyn Young, RN, BSN, nurse manager, Coosa Valley Medical Center, Sylacauga;

Allen
Anne Allen is the director of pharmacy at Walker Baptist Medical Center in Jasper, where she has worked for 29 years of her 31-year health care career.

“Anne is the type person who is not afraid to make something happen,” said Renae McKinney, director of community relations. “When she has an idea for improvement or change, she jumps in with both feet and faces that challenge.”

According to McKinney, Allen was instrumental in the development of the Hope Clinic, an indigent care clinic in Walker County. She established the clinic’s pharmacy and ensures that necessary medications are available and organized. Through her relationships with pharmaceutical companies, she was able to secure medication samples and generic prescription brands.

“In the first year of the clinic, these relationships helped supply the clinic with more than $2 million in donated pharmaceuticals,” said McKinney.

Since the clinic opened, more than 2,000 patients have visited, with more than 10,000 prescriptions written to help care for the community’s indigent population. It was this drive and care for others that makes Allen a hero to her co-workers.

Brooker
Cheri Brooker, RN, BSN, has worked as a nurse in the birth suites at St. Vincent’s Birmingham since 2000. Patients and co-workers have also recognized her for going “above and beyond” for not only the care she provides, but also the manner in which she delivers it.

According to co-workers, Brooker has a strong yearning for mission services. She has served as camp nurse for a youth camp in California for the past three summers, as well as participating in mission trips outside of the U.S. Currently, she is leading an effort at St. Vincent’s to support Med Missions, which collects medical supplies to support mission services in the U.S. and other countries.

Brooker also looks to enhance her work knowledge by working extra shifts in the Emergency Department. Through this experience, she became interested in the hospital’s response in mass casualty events. She helped to develop a mass casualty response plan specifically for the birth suites and is now coordinating mock code blue drills for the hospital’s staff.

“Cheri Brooker is truly a role model for the nursing profession,” said Colleen Shores, obstetrics nurse manager. “She goes above and beyond in her daily work activities, but also beyond that in caring for this hospital and for her community.”

Cooper
Karen Cooper, RN, BSN, was named director of quality improvement at Physicians Medical Center Carraway, Birmingham, in 2006. Prior to arriving at Carraway, Cooper spent 24 years with University Hospital in Birmingham, where she began her health care career as a staff nurse. She also spent one year with UAB Health System as the quality improvement coordinator.

“Karen Cooper is a dedicated employee who is always willing to help the hospital, as well as those in need,” said Carraway Human Resources Specialist Kessley Crowe. “She has been so involved in the community and truly has a heart in everything she is involved in.”

Cooper is an active volunteer with such organizations as:  the American Indian Scouting Association; the Black Warrior Boy Scout Council; the Girl Scouts of America, Cahaba council; Hawk’s in the Wind Pantries; and Walk of Faith Ministry. This serving spirit was evident after Hurricane Katrina, when Cooper coordinated the delivery of items to several Native American tribes affected by the storm.

Her colleagues note that it is her lifetime of giving through her job and community involvement that makes Cooper a hero and that as a result of her influence, numerous young people have pursued health careers.

“One act alone does not make a hero,” said Dr. Cheryl A. Farabaugh, owner of a Native American arts and drum company. “It is the life well lived by Karen Cooper that makes her a hero, day in and day out.”

Solomon
Rev. Walter L. Solomon, Sr., currently serves as the pharmacy technical supervisor at UAB Hospital, Birmingham, where he has been employed for 11 of his 15 years in health care. He also serves as a minister and has served as guest chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Alabama House of Representatives and the Birmingham City Council.

Solomon was responsible for setting up UAB’s Automated Medication Management System (AMMS), which allows approximately 90 percent of patient-required medications to be available to the nurse when the medication is needed. This responsibility included building the system’s 117 medication distribution devices, training personnel, reengineering work processes and developing procedures to insure patient safety.

In addition to his full-time job at the hospital, Solomon is also a full-time minister at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Birmingham. In this role, he oversees 22 ministries, preaches at revivals and takes part in missionary trips to Nigeria. He also serves on the board of directors for the Congregation of Public Health.

Co-workers note his devotion to his work, both at the church and at the hospital, and his ability to handle both jobs with calmness and compassion is what makes Walter Solomon a hero.

Standridge
Louise Standridge, RN, has spent the past 26 years of her 50-year health care career as the director of epidemiology at Physicians Medical Center Carraway, Birmingham. Featured nationally in 2006’s “Who’s Who in Infection Prevention,” Standridge has been recognized by both peers and co-workers for her expertise and devotion to patient care.

“She is always up-to-date and innovative in instituting policies aimed at promoting state-of-the-art infection control for the benefit of our patients,” said executive assistant Teresa Smith. “She is also a leader among her peers in this community and in professional organizations.”

Standridge has dedicated herself to helping other infection control practitioners. She helped to establish the Alabama Association of Infection Control Practitioners in 1976. Since that time Standridge has served in every elected office of the organization, including six terms as president. She is also currently a member of the state health department’s task force to develop a statewide pandemic preparedness plan.

Yet, despite her busy schedule, Standridge always takes time to help new infection control practitioners looking for advice.

“Louise has tirelessly mentored countless numbers of new infection control practitioners, myself included, helping each over the hurdles of learning new skills and modeling what it takes to be a professional,” said Cathy Sanders. “She is never too busy to answer a phone or e-mail question from those with less experience.”

Winborn
Michelle Winborn has served as a catering attendant at Physicians Medical Center Carraway, Birmingham, for the past 11 years and is described by co-workers as someone who has a very positive effect on those around her.

“Michelle’s thoughtfulness for others is a great boost to employee moral,” said Kessley Crowe, human resource specialist. “It inspires other employees to give of themselves and makes the Food & Nutrition Services Department the most caring group of individuals I have ever worked with.”

An example of this caring spirit occurred several years ago when Carraway hired a young lady who was unable to read well. Winborn gathered resources and information to assist the young woman and encouraged her in her efforts. Winborn has also helped gather supplies for sick or grieving co-workers and recently, helped with cleanup and relocation for a co-worker whose house burned.

According to Crowe, Winborn carries this spirit with her during her daily routine and has a positive impact on numerous hospital employees, as well as patients’ family members.

“She never has a complaint – always a smile and her wonderful laugh.”

Young
Carolyn Young, RN, BSN, received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland in 1967 and has spent more than 40 years in health care. In 1987, she arrived at Coosa Valley Medical Center, Sylacauga, later assuming the director of nursing position. However, after 12 years of administrative service, Young felt compelled to return to the bedside and took over as nurse manager at Coosa Valley Nursing Home in 2001.

Co-workers comment that Young’s eagerness for her job and her commitment to quality care is what makes her a hero in their eyes.

“Ms. Young continues to work in the nursing home, and I have the privilege of working alongside her,” said Teresa Aldaher, RN, BSN, director of senior services at Coosa Valley Medical Center. “On a daily basis I see her commitment and compassion revealed. She is dedicated not only to providing evidenced-based care, but to providing patient-centered care.”

And while others might be looking to ease their workloads at this stage in their careers, Young is eager to assume new tasks and responsibilities. Co-workers say it is not unusual to see her covering a vacant shift at 4 a.m.

“Ms. Young maintains a work ethic that is unmatched,” says Coosa Valley Medical Center CEO Glenn C. Sisk. “She has demonstrated her commitment to nursing by not only working hard, but ensuring the patient outcomes associated with the nursing home are at the highest level.”

The Alabama Hospital Association, based in Montgomery, is a statewide trade organization that represents more than 100 hospitals and numerous other health care providers by offering membership services designed to enhance the provision of health care in Alabama.

###