GRIFFIN, Ga. – April 26, 2010 – Spalding Regional Medical Center announced today that four members of its emergency medical services department, Michael Hammerstone, Melissa Funderburk, Melissa Wilson and Shirley Hattaway, have been inducted into the Tenet Heroes Hall of Fame, Tenet Healthcare Corporation’s (NYSE: THC) highest honor for employees, at a ceremony in Dallas, Texas, on April 21.
When a co-worker was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer, Hammerstone, Funderburk, Wilson and Hattaway rallied around her. They organized the entire EMS Department and many others in Spalding County’s emergency response community for fundraisers from bake sales to a local skeet shoot and gun auction and a benefit ride with a local motorcycle club, raising $10,000 to help pay for medical costs. As their co-worker began to lose her hair from chemotherapy, they organized a head-shaving party to show their support and included others from the EMS department, the Fire Department and Sheriff’s department. Their efforts to help, support, sustain and lift up their co-worker are truly heroic.
“Our Tenet Hero inductees represent the best of who we are at Tenet and what we do as health care providers in the communities we serve,” said Trevor Fetter, Tenet’s president and chief executive officer. “The passion and quality of care provided by professionals like Melissa, Michael, Shirley and Melissa serve as an inspiration to us all.”
Hammerstone, Funderburk, Wilson and Hattaway were among 13 employees, representing three teams and four individuals, inducted into the Tenet Heroes Hall of Fame. This year’s recipients were chosen from more than 100 compelling nominations. Tenet Heroes are nominated by their hospital’s leadership team and selected based on their dedication to their patients, co-workers and communities. The Tenet Heroes Hall of Fame recognizes exceptional employees for their dedication and hard work.
Spalding Regional Medical Center, part of Tenet Healthcare, is a 160-bed acute care hospital located at 601 South Eighth Street in Griffin, Ga. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Spalding, Butts, Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Lamar and Pike counties for more than 100 years. Spalding Regional provides a number of services, including specialties in orthopedics, women’s services, cardiac care, oncology services, physical, occupational and speech therapy and sleep medicine. Spalding Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Tenet Healthcare Corporation is a health care services company whose subsidiaries and affiliates own and operate acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and diagnostic imaging centers. Tenet's hospitals and related health care facilities are committed to providing high quality care to patients in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.tenethealth.com.
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