Award Winning Employees
Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas is proud to have nearly 1,000 employees that make up our team. From doctors, nurses, and therapists, to electricians, EVS and nutrition crew, our hospital operates everyday because of the people inside. The hard work of our team does not go unnoticed. In fact, we aim to recognized our outstanding team members for the life-saving efforts they provide from the front-line, to behind the scenes.
Take a look at some of our Award Programs in place that allow patients, families, and peers to nominate a team member who goes above and beyond at their job.
DAISY Award | ELITE Award | BEE Award | Lifepoint Mercy Award
Nominate a Nurse or Staff Member Here
The DAISY Award
The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day.
The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after he died from complications of the auto-immune disease ITP in 1999. During his hospitalization, Patrick’s family deeply appreciated the care and compassion shown not only to Patrick, but to all of them as well. When he passed, they felt compelled to say “thank you” to nurses in a very public way.
Highpoint Health – Sumner partnered with the DAISY Foundation to recognize excellence in nursing and the phenomenal things our nurses do for our patients, their families, our facility, and the community.
Highpoint Health – Sumner 2023 Winners
Quarter 1- Becky Wellman, Jasper Barao, and Alex Aguinaldo
Quarter 2- Asa Underwood and Breanna Calhoun
Quarter 3- Blake Holmes
Highpoint Health – Riverview 2022 Winner
Bill Dycus, RN
The ELITE Award
The ELITE Award is an employee recognition award given to employees who exemplify Lifepoint's Core Values of:
- Champion Patient Care
- Do the Right Thing
- Embrace Individuality
- Act with Kindness
- Make a Difference Together
ELITE Award winners are chosen quarterly and nominated by peers. This award aims to recognize our employees in 3 different areas, clinical, non-clinical, and nursing, for exemplifying our core values. At the end of the year, the ELITE Employee of the Year will be chosen from the 12 award winners.
Highpoint Health – Sumner 2023 Winners
Quarter 1-
Non-Clinical Winner: Annie Duncan, EVS Technician
Clinical Winner: Sharon Davis, Pharmacy Lead Tech, Purchasing Agent
Nursing Winner: Lisa Franklin, Staff Assistant, Same Day Surgery
Quarter 2-
Non-Clinical Winner: Dana Price, Patient Access Rep
Clinical Winner: Jessica Reece, Case Management
Nursing Winner: Blake Holmes, RN, A4, B2
Quarter 3-
Non-Clinical Winner: Barbara Belote, Therapy Operations Coordinator
Clinical Winner: Tara Mungle, Physical Therapy Assistant
Nursing Winner: Lisa Wheat, RN Labor and Delivery
Highpoint Health – Riverview 2023 Winners
Chris White, Plant Operations
Jennifer Holmes, Respiratory Therapy
Karen Everett, Med/Surg
Laurie Rathbun, RN Med/Surg
David Floyd, Respiratory
Holly Wix, Nutritional
Margie Martin, Nutrition
Josh Mullinax, Respiratory Care Practitioner
Kristy Green, CNT
Kim Givens, Admin Assistant
Philip Davis, MSW
Gracie White, RN
Highpoint Health – Trousdale 2023 Winners
Erika Burgett, Respiratory
Vickie Harper, Nutritional Services
McKensey Scott, RN Emergency Room
Susann Moulton, Rehab
Stephen Woodard, EVS
Greg Jones, ER
Ashley Farley, Lab
Betty Baines, Nutritional
Leeanna Swaney, Med/Surg
Mary Qualls, Med/Surg
Courtney Cherry, Radiology
David Horner, Plant Operations
The BEE Award
Like a bee pollinates a flower, the BEE Award compliments the DAISY. This award started at Highpoint Health – Sumner to recognize a staff member for going above and beyond the expectations of quality and care.
2023 Winners
Quarter 1- Ashton Bracken, Patient Care Tech
Quarter 2- Eric Hudgins, Physical Therapist
Quarter 3- Amber Hendrix, Respiratory Therapist
The Lifepoint Mercy Award
Once a year, each Lifepoint Health facility recognizes one employee who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded. The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program that honors the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, Lifepoint’s founding chairman, and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.
Highpoint Health – Sumner 2023 Winner
Suzanne Gaffney
Suzzane Gaffney has been the Director of Outpatient Rehabilitation Services for 11 years and has worked at Highpoint Health – Sumner for 27 years. She is a leader in our hospital and the community. Suzanne serves on the HAP (Hospital Acquired Pneumonia) prevention team to ensure patient health and safety at Highpoint Health – Sumner.
According to Chad Smith, the Administrative Director of Ancillary Services at Highpoint Health – Sumner, “She is a kind and compassionate leader within the organization who places great emphasis on the care of the patients served.” Suzanne is known to help wherever she is needed whether that be with patient care, ordering supplies, or resolving problems.
Suzanne Gaffney has not only impacted our hospital but the local community. Suzanne helped a local shelter recruit and organize volunteers. She made sure there were hot food items every Friday night for the unhoused population of Sumner County and that everyone had a warm place to stay in the winter months. Suzanne has a servant's heart and steps up when she sees someone in need. She has made a difference by embracing the core values of Lifepoint Health.
Highpoint Health – Riverview 2023 Winner
Flo Agee
Flo Agee is the Executive Assistant/ Director of Volunteer Services at Highpoint Health – Riverview. She has worked with the hospital for five years and has made a lasting impact on her fellow coworkers and the community. Flo is known to come to work on weekends to provide staff with treats. She provides lunch to staff members who have had a busy day and makes sure everyone is cared for. Flo Agee is compassionate to the volunteers at Highpoint Health – Riverview. Flo checks up on volunteers who are out sick and prioritizes their health and safety. She took breakfast to a volunteer who lives alone every day he was out sick. Flo Agee is also very involved in the Carthage community. She is an active member of her church and is the secretary of the local Rotary Club. Flo Agee is a dedicated member of the Highpoint Health – Riverview family by planning employee encouragement activities, such as an Easter Egg Hunt around the hospital. She is committed to helping others and has been a great leader in our facility.
Highpoint Health – Trousdale 2023 Winner
Sarah Raney
Sarah Raney is a Patient Access Representative that has been diligently working at Highpoint Health – Trousdale for two and a half years. She has shown commitment to her community and compassion to her fellow co-workers by staying multiple nights at Highpoint Health – Trousdale so that her fellow co-workers did not have to brave the winter storms to come in. She has been a champion in patient safety, with the Director of Nursing, Kelly Anderson, stating “She exudes confidence when patients or families come in anxious, and she always insists on transporting patients herself via wheelchair if she senses a risk for falling.” Sarah Raney is a friendly face to those who need help. She welcomes every patient into the facility with her calming personality. Most notably, Sarah Raney gave her car up to a fellow employee who is a single mom and lost access to her vehicle. This selfless act had a lasting impact on the Highpoint Health – Trousdale community. Sarah Raney did not hesitate to help another in need and did not expect praise for this generous act of kindness. However, her unwavering commitment to helping those around her has touched the lives of many and needs recognition through the Mercy Award.