EFFINGHAM HEALTH PRESENTS HELMEY AWARD
Denise Driggers, lab manager at Effingham Health System, was presented the C. Edward Helmey Humanitarian award Monday morning at the hospital.
The award is named for one of the first members of the hospital’s board of trustees, C. Edward Helmey. It was first presented in 1994 and recognizes hospital employees who their peers believe embody the organization’s mission for excellence in service and care.
Driggers was hired by the hospital in 1998 as a medical technologist.
Effingham Health System CEO Norma Jean Morgan said Driggers is more than worthy of the honor.
“She’s an advocate of the health system, she’s always first to volunteer, highly respected by all staff,” Morgan said.
Words of fellow employees to describe Driggers were read by Tammy Mims, COO of EHS.
A few chosen included, compassionate, driven, determined, humble, modest, supportive and trustworthy.
First finalist for the award was Lillie Bell Bedford.
Bedford began her career at the hospital in 1978, left for a few years and then came back in 2004, Morgan said.
“She spreads good will and always has a smile on her face,” Morgan said.
Second finalist for the award was Susanna Jarvis who began working at the hospital in 2007.
“She’s a nurse extraordinaire,” Morgan said, “and she’s known as a prayer warrior for others. Always is her persona, she is always willing to help others.”
The hospital is also celebrating its 45th anniversary and heard some memories from early employees at the award program.
“Jane Miller was the first nurse, on the first shift, on the first day,” Morgan said, “Aug. 25, 1969.”
Miller told the crowd that on that first day they weren’t exactly busy.
“We were hoping for someone to get sick,” she said to a big laugh.
One patient got so much attention from the nurses, “she must of thought we were crazy,” Miller said.
Miller also talked about the hospital’s first ambulance service.
“We had Russel Burns,” Miller said. “The only reason he got the job was because he was a good mechanic — and the coroner.”
Miller said Burns had no medical training. He did know how to tell people to get somewhere in the county, but couldn’t get there himself.
“He never got there, it was always ‘oh, they’ve built something here I didn’t know about.’ ”
In honoring employees for their service to others, Morgan reminded the crowd of one of God’s requirements.
“God demands that we give care to other people.”