Reid team member named ‘Transporter of the Year’

Terri Ballenger, who has worked at Reid for almost 12 years, was recently named Patient Transporter of the Year in the nation by Crothall, the company that manages patient transport for the hospital.

The award is based upon employees’ traits such as accountability, integrity, leadership, time and attendance and patient experience. Ballenger was one of 11 who won the award out of a field of approximately 50,000 other candidates nationwide.

“To be nominated for this award, you must have previously won a ‘Gem of the Quarter’ award for that year, and out of the four quarterly winners, one is selected to be considered for the regional ‘Gem of the Year’ award,” said Jess Richie, Unit Director of Patient Transportation.

“Terri is not only a great employee/transporter, but she is overall a great person. She is a role model to new employees, both professionally and personally,” Richie said.

Ballenger has worked for Crothall for 4-5 years, and this July she will have worked at Reid for 12. As a patient transporter, a normal day for her consists of greeting new and familiar patients, taking patients to and from their destinations in the hospital, and helping to make sure that they are comfortable.

Ballenger said she is motivated by the daily interactions she has with patients. Although she is only able to spend 15-20 minutes with each patient, she uses that time trying to make their day better and put a smile on their face.

“I enjoy the satisfaction of helping patients, whether it’s doing something small, like getting them a warm blanket, or something bigger, such as asking their nurse for something. I try to make patients happy.”

Receiving this award is certainly a tremendous honor, Richie said, but it does not end there. The winner will then connect with the other winners in their respective fields and share best practices to exchange ideas and learn together, he said.

(Story by Madelyn Kinyon)