Joyce Richins
LAMC News:
Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) has announced that Infection Preventionist Joyce Richins, RN, has been recognized as the hospital’s 2020 Mercy Award winner.
The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of LifePoint Health’s hospitals who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.
Richins is recognized for demonstrating compassion and unwavering commitment to helping others.
The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program established in 2002 to honor the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, LifePoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a LifePoint employee can receive.
“At Los Alamos Medical Center, we share LifePoint’s commitment to making communities healthier, and we recognize this is supported by the good work and service of our employees on and off the job,” LAMC CEO John Whiteside said. “We are extremely proud to recognize Joyce for her efforts on behalf of our patients and our community. She goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that every person she encounters receives the highest level of care and compassion.”
Richins works for infection prevention and is the employee health nurse for LAMC. LAMC Auxiliary President Patricia Ensberg states, “Watching Joyce navigate the perils of the current COVID-19 crisis has impressed me even more. She has always seemed calm and in control. Her compassion shines through as I see her answering all the questions posed to her by patients, staff and the auxilians, gently letting all know that their health and safety are her chief concerns.”
Each hospital winner, including Richins, will be considered for LifePoint’s 2020 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored in October during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., to which Richins and all hospital winners are invited to attend.
Physician Letter of Endorsement
June 26, 2020
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is on behalf of Joyce Richins. My colleagues and I agree that there is no person who more epitomizes The Mercy Award. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Joyce has been on the front lines, LITERALLY! Joyce is always armed with the most up to date information regarding testing, guidelines, and policies. And most importantly-JOYCE ALWAYS ANSWERS HER PHONE! I have always appreciated that if Joyce did not know the answer to a question, she did not hesitate to find out, and provide information as quickly as possible. Our present state of operation is very stressful, for everyone. I cannot think of an instant where I did not see Joyce smiling, always prepared to offer words of hope and encouragement, or simply a quick stop in, to check on our well-being. Joyce has a calm, pleasant demeanor and It is always refreshing to see her. She is a kind, caring person who is easily approachable, knowledgeable and always ready to help. Joyce exemplifies the spirit of The Mercy Award.
Respectfully,
Monica Snowden, MD
Board Member Letter of Endorsement
June 28, 2020
Dear Mercy Committee,
I have had the pleasure of knowing Joyce Richins, RN, since she became the hospital’s Infection Control Nurse in 2016. I am the current President of the Auxilians, and thus am also a hospital Board member.
Whenever any occasions arose with possible infection control issues with the activities of the auxilians, Joyce always took the come to come directly to the Board of the Auxiliary. Instead of issuing an edict from on high, Joyce has taken the time to come and explain her concerns with us, allowing us to ask questions, and then she even brainstorms with us for answers. It is clear she truly cares about the volunteers, the impact we have on the hospital and community, and the meaning that volunteering gives to our lives.
Watching Joyce navigate the perils of the current COVID-19 crisis has impressed me even more. She has always seemed calm and in control, though I suspect she didn’t always feel that way. Her compassion shines through as I see her answering all the questions posed to her by patients, staff and the auxilians, gently letting all know that their health and safety are her chief concerns. It is not easy to tell people they can’t visit their relatives, or the auxilians that they must stay home, but her care and compassion shines through, making it all a little easier to endure.
I heartily recommend Joyce as a Lifepoint Mercy Award winner, she embodies the essence of the award, and would be a credit to it. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Patricia Ensberg
President LAMC Auxiliary