Crestwood Employee Named Statewide Hospital Hero

Stephanie Rice, LPN, RN, IV, therapy/bed access nurse, Crestwood Medical Center, Huntsville, was recently honored as a statewide “Hospital Hero” at a luncheon in Birmingham hosted by the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA). The association’s 10th annual contest is an effort to honor the dedication of hospital employees and to highlight health careers. Up to six local Hospital Heroes were chosen in each of seven regional areas of the state. From that pool, nine men and women were selected as statewide heroes, and one physician was selected as the state’s Hospital Physician Hero.

“It really makes you proud to be a part of the hospital field when you hear stories like the ones co-workers tell about these heroes,” said J. Michael Horsley, FACHE, president of the Alabama Hospital Association. “The men and women we are honoring truly represent the best in health care; they are people who make a difference every day.”

Stephanie Rice has been described by those who work with her as being someone who consistently demonstrates kindness and compassion toward patients. A recent example includes a patient receiving a central line procedure. After multiple sticks, hospital staff was still having difficulty inserting the central line, which caused the patient much anxiety. Ms. Rice was called in to assist and was able to get the IV started. Knowing the patient was anxious, she stayed in a kneeled position on the floor for more than an hour holding the patient’s hand and talking her through the procedure. Post-anesthesia care unit clinical manager Scott Donovan said of her actions, “I have never seen a nurse in her situation do that. It was above and beyond the call of duty.”

Ms. Rice has demonstrated her caring ways beyond the scope of her job as well. In her role as Nursing Leadership Group president she has led efforts to create and provide baskets for patients at Crestwood Medical Center’s ALS Clinic and has coordinated fundraisers for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of North Alabama.

The Alabama Hospital Association, based in Montgomery, is a statewide trade organization that represents more than 100 hospitals and numerous other health care providers in their efforts to provide quality health care.