Polk Medical Center Announces The 2007 Frist Humanitarian Award Recipients & Employee of the Year

Cedartown, GA (March 3, 2008) – Jill McElwee, LPN, and Jackie Watts were recently awarded Polk Medical Center’s 2007 Employee and Volunteer Frist Humanitarian Awards. This honor places Ms. McElwee and Ms. Watts in nomination for the nationwide 2007 Frist Humanitarian Award, the highest honor an employee or volunteer can receive within HCA, the parent company of Polk Medical Center. Phyllis Davis, Unit Secretary for the ED, was also awarded the Employee of the Year Award. Pictured Left (from left to right): Jill McElwee, LPN; Phyllis Davis, and Jackie Watts.

The Frist Humanitarian Awards were created to recognize one employee and one volunteer at each HCA-affiliated facility who demonstrate extraordinary concern for the welfare and happiness of patients and their community. The Frist Humanitarian Awards are given annually in recognition of the humanitarian spirit and philanthropic work of the late Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., a founder of HCA. National recipients will be honored in the spring at a reception at the company’s Nashville, Tenn., headquarters. Additionally, they each receive a bronze statue, a $5,000 gift to the charity of their choice, and a $5,000 cash gift.

Jill McElwee, Clinical Coordinator for the ED and West Wing, is said to go above and beyond in all that she does. She completes her tasks quickly and does not hesitate to take on additional responsibilities. In addition to being an excellent employee, Jill is extremely active in her community. She is a volunteer firefighter that serves Polk County Station 9. She also teaches Basic Life Support (BLS) classes to the community. Outside of these great accomplishments, Jill is also in school to become a Registered Nurse, and  has spent a great deal of her time helping care for her sick mother-in-law. She strives for perfection in all she does and achieves just that.

Jackie Watts has volunteered at Polk since 2003. Jackie is active in her church and in the community. She is always there to help a friend or family member in need. She often provides them with transportation to doctor appointments or anything else they may need. Jackie has one daughter and one granddaughter. 

“HCA is committed to delivering quality patient care. We are extremely proud to recognize Jill McElwee and Jackie Watts for their efforts on behalf of our patients and our community,” said Steve Hoelscher, CEO. “Their exemplary work and compassion sets a high standard for healthcare professionals. We’re proud to have them as part of our Polk family. Undoubtedly, our patients benefit from the kind of commitment to humanitarian concerns Jill and Jackie demonstrate each day.”

"I am very proud to present these awards," said Jack O. Bovender, Jr., HCA Chairman and CEO. "Jill McElwee and Jackie Watts are an inspiration to all our employees and volunteers. Their generosity and dedication serve as a living example of HCA's commitment to the care and improvement of human life."