Oak Hill Hospital has announced its Star Associates of the Month of May. Each month hospital associates are chosen in a process that involves nominations and voting by their peers, patients, patient families, and physicians.
This month’s Oak Hill Hospital “Stars” are:
Jeff Palmer, RN, FF/PM (Firefighter Paramedic)
Jeff began his career at Oak Hill Hospital in May 2011. He is an RN in the Emergency Care Center where he handles community emergencies from minor flu-like symptoms to major heart attacks. Jeff lives in New Port Richey and is the proud father of FOUR daughters: Hailey, 20, Kylie, 18, Madisyn, 16 and Allisyn, 13.
Thomas Ratcliffe, Paramedic, joined Oak Hill Hospital in November 2011 in the Emergency Care Center, he serves as a paramedic administering IVs, blood draws, ECGs, CPR, and also does front desk ER receiving, supporting and assisting physicians, nurses and paramedics. He lives in Brooksville with his wife, Jerrica and their one year old son Archer. They are expecting an addition on October 7.
Both gentlemen were commended for their conduct in the exact same incident. “I witnessed the two standing in the middle of the intersection helping the occupants of crashed vehicles. A short time after that, another vehicle collided with the wreckers in the intersection. Prior to the impact, Tom yelled to Jeff and ran into the intersection to lead him away from the oncoming vehicle.
Both men disappeared to the ground as the vehicle passed through to the intersection. They barely escaped serious injury. Jeff visibly injured jumped back up and made his way to the person in the first vehicle while Tom ran towards the median where the second vehicle had hit more cars and flipped.”
In the opinion of the person making the nomination both men displayed exemplary bravery, concern, and compassion while risking their lives. Jeff continued to focus on the safety of the injured person in the first vehicle while Tom ran across the street checking on those involved in the second wreck. Both of these men displayed traits that any ER would be proud of. They took charge and did their best to secure the scene for all in the area. It was obvious their focus and concern were for others and above their own safety. In addition, Tom Ratcliff nominated Jeff Palmer for the same incident saying, “Jeff risked his own life not just once but at least three times while rescuing an individual involved in a motor vehicle accident.”
Both associates deserve to be honored together for their exemplary behavior and both feel that what they value most about Oak Hill Hospital is the staff. As Jeff Palmer says, “The family-like environment and the low employee turnover allows you to work long term with the same employees.”
In making the announcement Oak Hill Hospital’s Chief Operating Officer Sonia Gonzalez said, “Dr. Thomas Frist, Senior, our founder, always believed that ‘Good people beget good people.’ People like Jeff and Tom prove that Oak Hill Hospital will continue the legacy.”
About Oak Hill Hospital:
Oak Hill Hospital has been serving the Nature Coast since 1984. It is the largest medical facility in Hernando and Citrus County (262 acute care beds), is one of the area’s largest private employers, and offers Hernando County’s only comprehensive cardiovascular program, including open heart surgery. Approximately 300 physicians, 950 associates, and over 350 volunteers comprise Oak Hill Hospital’s healthcare delivery team.
Oak Hill has achieved distinction as the:
· First and only open heart surgery hospital in Hernando County.
· First Chest Pain Center with PCI (heart catheterization) in Hernando County accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.
· First and Only advanced level primary stroke center in Hernando County to be fully accredited by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America.
· First comprehensive Women’s Imaging Center in Hernando County and the first imaging center offering digital mammography with computer aided detection.
· First hospital in the area to be recognized as an accredited cancer institute by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).
· First hospital in the region to achieve Heart Failure accreditation with the Society of Chest Pain Centers.
· First hospital in the region to offer a comprehensive Orthopaedic & Spine Institute and first to achieve national certification by The Joint Commission for its Hip & Knee replacement and spinal fusion programs.
· First in the nation to have achieved 100% Board Certified Emergency Nurses, CEN’s.
· Now offers the most advanced robotic assisted surgical system: the newly refined da Vinci® Si Surgical System.
· Only Emergency Care Center in Florida, and one of only 20 nationwide, honored by the Emergency Nurses Association for its first-ever Lantern Award exemplifying exceptional and innovative performance in the core areas of leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research.
It is located at 11375 Cortez Boulevard, Spring Hill, 1.9 miles east of US 19 on State Road 50. For more information about this release, please contact Richard W. Linkul, Director of Marketing, at 352-597-6383 or Richard.Linkul@hcahealthcare.com. In Citrus call 352-628-6441. For more information about Oak Hill Hospital, visit our website at OakHillHospital.com, or like us on Facebook.