ANNISTON, AL (December 4, 2017) – Two RMC Health System employees were recently
recognized by the Healthcare Authority Board as recipients of the annual Josie King Hero
Awards. The Hero Award was created by the Josie King Foundation to be given to those who
work hard to create a positive culture of patient safety. The recipients are Susan Greene, RN,
ICU Nurse Manager and Philip Suter, R.T.(R)(MR)(ARRT), both employees on the RMC Anniston
campus.
Louis Bass, CEO, RMC Health System said that both of these individuals truly embody the core
values of the RMC Health System of providing superior patient care and the Josie King Hero
Award that demonstrates employees who set an example for others every day and inspire
positive change.
“The Josie King Hero Award emphasizes good teamwork and the ever important culture of
patient safety being first and foremost in daily activities,” said Mr. Bass. “This includes listening
to patients and their families, encouraging them to speak up and ask questions of their
healthcare providers, improving communication, improving teamwork, being alert to any
questionable circumstances and proactively addressing potential problems before they cause
harm to a patient.”
Earlier this year, a patient arrived in the MRI department for an abdominal MRI. Despite being
prescreened prior to arriving in the department, during the first sequence of the exam Suter
detected a foreign metal artifact in the lower quadrant of the patient’s body. Because of his
astute observation he was able to remove the patient from the scanner and notify the
radiologist, referring doctor and GI lab physician and prevent a potential medical emergency
from impacting this patient.
Ms. Greene, ICU nurse manager, vigilantly doublechecked physician orders from another
department within the hospital and was able to ensure that a patient sent to the ICU was
transferred with correct clinical orders.
“We are extremely grateful for the highly observant, patient-centered actions of both Susan
Greene and Philip Suter,” said Mr. Bass. “Because of their fundamental training and focus on
patient safety, care for their patients was not compromised that could have resulted in negative
consequences or outcomes.”
To learn more about the Josie King Hero Awards, click here: http://josieking.org/jkf-tools/josieking-
hero-award/.
About RMC Health System
With 323 inpatient beds at RMC Anniston, 104 beds at RMC Jacksonville and 125 acute care beds
at Stringfellow Memorial Hopsital, as well as numerous outpatient facilities and physician offices,
RMC is the largest not-for-profit healthcare provider in Northeast Alabama. With more than
2,200 employees, 300 volunteers and over 200 primary care and specialty physicians, the
expanded RMC Health System provides state-of-the-art integrated healthcare with integrity, skill
and compassion. RMC Anniston is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission
on Cancer, is an associate of the UAB Health System Cancer Community, is recognized by Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama as a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement
and Maternity Care, and is the first designated Baby Friendly birthing facility in Alabama. All three
hospitals within RMC Health System are accredited by The Joint Commission, the leading
accrediting agency for hospitals in the U.S. For more information, visit www.rmccares.org.