Joe Austin Honored with CEO of the Year Award by Volunteer Auxiliary-North Fulton Hospital-Roswell, GA

Joe Austin, CEO of North Fulton Regional Hospital, was recently presented the CEO of the Year Award by the Council on Auxiliaries/Volunteers of the Georgia Hospital Association on October 28. He accepted the award in Savannah, Georgia before a crowd of approximately 500 volunteers from across the state. Any of the 94 Georgia hospitals were eligible to submit a nomination.

“Nominations for this award were submitted back in May, and a panel of differing state volunteer representatives met in Washington to decide on the most deserved CEO,” said North Fulton Regional Hospital Volunteer Services Coordinator Lisa Delamater. “Each representative reviewed nominations from a state other than their own.”

The Volunteers at North Fulton Regional Hospital did not hesitate to prepare their nomination. They quickly organized and submitted the following essay for consideration:

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. Smiles abound and spirits are high. Although there have been many changes to the facility in terms of physical plant improvements and technological advancements, only one force could take credit for this attitude shift, and that mighty force is North Fulton Regional Hospital President and CEO Joe Austin.

Mr. Austin has been with the hospital for less than two years. Officially joining the team in November of 2006, he immediately changed the face of the hospital and all the staff that called it “home.” He seems to have a sparkle in his eyes that has lit sparks all throughout the hospital, and his strong communication skills and genuine respect for the volunteers has made a marked difference in the way our group is perceived and treated by both staff members and administrative team members alike. It is quite evident that Mr. Austin clearly and consistently communicates that the volunteers here at North Fulton Regional Hospital are special, and, in fact, essential for the patient care given at such a high level each and every day.

Beyond his positive attitude and outwardly friendly demeanor, Mr. Austin also goes out of his way to stay involved with the volunteer program, both as a sponge, soaking up information from us, and as an informer, providing updates to us. He has attended many of our meetings, meets with us when we ask and responds to any and all requests. He also takes every opportunity to keep us informed about happenings in the hospital, including any changes that might be instituted and future goals. Mr. Austin values our input, going as far to include us in a focus group to improve special services that the hospital performs. It is even quite common to see him at many of our social gatherings, mingling with members of the group, earnestly taking interest in our personal lives outside of the hospital setting.

One prime example of his attentiveness and care happened recently when we decided it was time to make a change to a new uniform. For 24 years we have been known as the “Pink Ladies,” so for the hospital’s 25th Anniversary year, Mr. Austin stepped forward and had the hospital Board of Directors fund the new uniforms for the entire volunteer group. As with everything else he does, he did this happily and with a smile.

Joe Austin walks the halls with his head up and his attitude positive. He is accessible; he listens, he gets things done; there is not much that he doesn’t do. His leadership and support of the volunteers in two years has far exceeded that which we have seen in the 23 years before his arrival. He is truly the best thing that has happened to this hospital and to the Volunteer Organization in 25 years.

Present for the award ceremony were Joe Austin, Lisa Delamater, and four volunteers from North Fulton Regional Hospital, including Meryl Shlossman, the president of the volunteer organization at the hospital.

“Mr. Austin has done so much for us,” Meryl explains. “I’ve been here since the hospital opened 25 years ago, and I can honestly say that we have never felt so appreciated and respected.”

North Fulton Regional Hospital (NFRH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell. Opened in 1983, NFRH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFRH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

For more information about volunteering at North Fulton Regional Hospital, please visit www.northfultonregional.com/volunteer, or call Lisa Delamater at 770-751-2602.

3000 HOSPITAL BLVD., ROSWELL, GA 30076 | 770-751-2500

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