December 03, 2008
ROSWELL – Joe Austin, CEO of North Fulton Regional Hospital, has always had a soft spot for the volunteers of his hospital, and he makes sure it shows.
This year, they returned the honors. Austin was presented the CEO of the Year Award by the Council on Auxiliaries/Volunteers of the Georgia Hospital Association Oct. 28. He accepted the award in Savannah before a gathering of some 500 volunteers from across the state. Any of the 94 Georgia hospitals were eligible to submit a nomination.
For Austin, showing appreciation to the volunteers at NFRH is not only good business sense, it is also a heartfelt acknowledgement of all the good they do for the hospital and the patients.
"What these ladies and gentlemen do – a large percentage of our volunteers are men – is provide that human contact that is vital when people are sick or hurt and a little bit frightened. They are the ones who always have a kind word to say, a hug to give or to just hold someone's hand a moment," Austin said.
"We would not be the same hospital without their valuable contributions. That they would honor me is really humbling. All I do is try to make sure our volunteers know the job they do is important and that it is appreciated."
In making their nomination to the volunteers had this to say about Austin:
"Throughout North Fulton Regional Hospital's 25 year history, never before have the volunteers felt so appreciated and respected. Staff attitudes for the group have improved 100 percent as employees from nursing, pharmacy, dietary, outpatient, emergency room, etc. go out of there way to acknowledge those of us who proudly wear the blue uniforms. Only one force could take credit for this attitude shift, and that mighty force is North Fulton Regional Hospital President and CEO Joe Austin."
The volunteers went on to say Austin got involved in the volunteer program at the onset of his appointment as CEO at NFRH, attending their meetings and social gatherings as well as getting funding for new volunteer uniforms (gone are the "Pink Ladies").
They praised him for his accessibility, his leadership and his support, said North Fulton Regional Hospital Volunteer Services Coordinator Lisa Delamater.
"He recognizes what they do, and they love him for it," Delamater said. "The volunteers say he is the best thing to happen to the volunteer organization the in the 25 years the hospital has been in Roswell."
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