By By Adam Prestridge
The staff at Atmore Community Hospital worked like little elves last week in preparation for the hospital's annual door decorating contest.
All the hard work paid off for the dietary department, which ran away with first place and bragging rights, as well as, the $75 cash prize. The department's door resembled an oven with a door that opened and had gingerbread men inside cooking.
The second place cash prize of $50 went to the med-surg department's door creation, which was a mantle scene with a fireplace that had tiny battery-operated candles giving off a glow. Medical records placed third and won a $25 cash prize for their door that depicted a large Christmas card that opened, played music and was signed by all the department's employees.
"We have held the door decorating contest for many years," ACH human resource manager Linda Lowrey said. "We're a small hospital and we are like one big family, so the more things we do together it helps build better working relationships. It makes for fun in the workplace. They love doing stuff like this."
Lowrey said the money received by the winning departments is used within the department for several different things.
"Normally they get something for the department that they all can enjoy or eat a meal together," she said.
Lowrey added that she believed this year's participation was one of the best.
"It was great this year, I think this was one of the better years," she said. "We had 15 doors that were decorated."
In addition to the door decorating contest, the hospital also holds a Walk-around Christmas Greeting. During the event, each department prepares a table of food, candies and other treats and other departments visit throughout the day sampling the finger foods.
ACH holds several other special events for its employees throughout the year, but Lowrey said the Christmas events are the most anticipated.
"It's one of the things that everyone looks forward to because we always do a lot of little things like our party, door decorations and walk-around Christmas greeting," Lowrey said. "It's a festive time of year and everyone pulls together. There's always a contest between departments."