One Atmore Community Hospital employee has joined the ranks of the elite after being selected as a Legend Award recipient in the Baptist Healthcare System.

Erica Elkins was told of the honor last week after the selection process was completed by the committee on Legend Award presentations. As part of the honor she will be recognized as the Baptist Health Care Board of Directors annual meeting next month at the Pensacola Yacht Club in Pensacola, Fla.

Linda Lowery, human resources manger at Atmore Community Hospital, said the honor is very prestigious with few receiving the award.

“Each facility in the system can nominate a candidate for the award,” Lowery said. “Very few actually receive the award.”

Elkins currently serves as house supervisor and as a staff nurse in the emergency department at the hospital. She began her career at ACH in 2001 as a registered nurse in the medical/surgical unit and has progressed through to her current position. Although she has a passion for emergency room work, she has shown her commitment to patient satisfaction, according to hospital staff. She is currently a member of the Patient Satisfaction Team and is often seen going the extra mile to do what is necessary to satisfy patients and attend to their comfort and needs.

In the submission nominating Elkins for the honor, a wide array of selfless acts as witnessed by co-workers, supervisors, administrators and patients at ACH was noted.

“Recently Erica found out that one of our ICU patients was legally blind and could not see the mounted television across the room.  She immediately called her husband and had him purchase cables that were long enough so that the television could be placed directly in front of her and close to her bed.  The patient was elated that now she could see the TV screen.  Later the patient was transferred to the Medical/Surgical Unit and Erica moved the cables from ICU to her new room so she could continue to watch TV until she was discharged.

“On another occasion a patient asked for a particular breakfast item that was not available at that time.  Erica immediately had one of her family members bring the item from her home; she fixed it and served it to the patient, once again showing her commitment to our patient satisfaction.

“Not long ago one of Erica’s co-workers was renewing her wedding vows.  Erica and her husband volunteered to help her set up by bringing all the tables and chairs for the occasion, then later came back and helped her with the disassembly and cleaning up.

“This past Halloween Erica bought the materials and made small ‘safety tip candy’ bags to hand out to the trick or treaters that presented to the hospital.

“One evening, Erica was off duty and visiting a family member who was in the hospital.  She heard the emergency room staff page a Code Blue overhead and she immediately headed to the emergency room, manned the desk and assisted other patients while the ER staff were busy with the code.

“Erica also has a strong dedication to her job and her co-workers.  She lives directly behind the hospital and has often called or come by to assist her co-workers when she hears or sees an ambulance at the emergency room.

“Erica has been actively involved in the Relay for Life teams the past several years and is chairing the team this year.  Her creativity and ambition keeps everyone on their toes which makes for interesting fundraisers.”

Lowery said Elkins lives up to the mission of Atmore Community Hospital daily and her dedication to that commitment has earned her the honor.

“Erica is a living example of our standards of performance, our mission and our values,” she said. “She is committed to providing world-class service to our patients and visitors.  Her unselfish spirit of giving and countless other acts of kindness are why we are excited to recognize her as our 2010 Legend.”