UP Health System - UP!

THIS PAST MAY, UP Health System announced the recipients of the 2015 Mercy Award at each of its three Upper Peninsula hospitals. An annual recognition established in 2002 to honor the life of Scott Mercy, founding chair and CEO of LifePoint, UP Health System's parent company, the Mercy Award is considered the highest honor a LifePoint Health employee can receive, and is awarded to one employee from each of LifePoint Health's more than 60 hospitals. DAVID POIRIER, pharmacist with UP Health System – Bell, is a well-known face at the hospital. "Many people know Dave as the friendly pharmacist at Bell Hospital who always takes extra time for patients," says UP Health System – Bell CEO Mitch Leckelt. "But Dave has also been involved in many volunteer activities, including more than 30 years with Cancer Care of Marquette County. Dave's donation of countless hours of his personal time to help cancer patients has positively impacted many families in the community." AMY HARJU, senior system analyst in the Information Technology Department at UP Health System – Marquette, is as much a fixture in her community as at the hospital, according to UP Health System Market President Jim Bogan. "Amy recognizes the team's role in the total patient experience and ensures that the patient is at the center of all they do each and every day," Bogan says. "As a kidney transplant recipient herself, she has established a foundation to support organ transplant patients and help defer costs associated with travel and testing." BRIAN LAAKONEN, pharmacy courier at UP Health System – Portage, has formed close bonds with homebound patients. "Brian supplies an essential service to our community, delivering prescription medications," says UPHS – Portage CEO Jeff Lang. "e patients Brian sees every day often go days without seeing anyone. Brian's smiling face and genuine care for everybody makes him a sight for sore eyes. e patients often call the pharmacy just to say how wonderful Brian is." UP Health System Market President Jim Bogan highlights the importance of recognizing those team members who go the extra mile. "At UP Health System, we share LifePoint's commitment to making communities healthier, and we are extremely proud to recognize Dave, Amy and Brian for serving our community with the highest level of care and compassion." Each hospital winner was also nominated for LifePoint's 2015 company-wide Mercy Award, with an August national ceremony in Nashville, TN. At that event, Amy Harju was named among the top 10 LifePoint honorees. Honoring OUR All-stars About LifePoint Health LifePoint Health was founded in 1999 on the principles that everyone deserves quality healthcare close to home and that strong healthcare creates strong communities. Today, LifePoint Health has grown into a leading healthcare company. We own and operate: • more than 65 community hospitals • more than 1,100 physician practices • nearly 40 post-acute service providers and facilities, including home health and hospice services, long-term care services, nursing homes and assisted living facilities • more than 30 outpatient centers, including urgent care centers, diagnostic imaging centers, ambulatory surgery centers and radiation oncology programs. We also maintain relationships with more than 4,100 physicians across our communities. Our nearly 40,000 employees and affiliated partners strive to achieve our mission every day. FALL / WINTER 2015 UPHE ALTHSYSTEM .COM 14

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