San Andreas, Calif. – Oct. 5, 2017 – Mark Twain Medical Center (MTMC) today announced that three of its employees, Hayley Litzenberg, Robyn Price and Bridget Proctor will be recognized among more than 300 winners across Dignity Health as Acts of Humankindness Award Winners for exemplary acts of compassion and humankindness demonstrated over the past 12 months. Awardees were nominated by their peers during a month long nomination period that concluded in August.

“Together with Dignity Health, MTMC is proud to recognize and celebrate these awardees who truly embody the ‘we all hold the power to heal’ spirit,” said Bob Diehl, President and CEO of Mark Twain Medical Center. “It is an honor and a privilege to be part of Dignity Health’s healing ministry. This award honors those who best exemplify empathy and caring for patients on a daily basis, which is especially important in today’s healthcare landscape,” continued Diehl.

Litzenberg, Price and Proctor demonstrated actions that met or exceeded awardee criteria: candidates were judged on actions that had a significant and positive impact on a co-worker, patients, family members, or the community or a community service organization.

To be recognized as an Acts of Humankindness Award Winner, the act of humankindness must have had a significant impact on a co-worker, patient or family member, positive impact on the community and reinforce or highlight the importance of Dignity Health’s core values.

Hayley Litzenberg – Acts of Humankindness Steward Award Winner
For many people, transportation to and from the hospital or to doctor’s visits can often be a challenge. That’s why Litzenberg, an employee in Patient Registration, took the initiative to help get bus vouchers into the hands of discharged Emergency Room (ER) patients who do not have family or friends that can provide rides. “For me, it was a humbling reminder that the smallest of actions can have the biggest impact on the lives of patients who need it the most,” said Litzenberg.

Litzenberg, who received the Dignity Health Steward Award, will be recognized during a Dignity Health Awards Reception in Las Vegas, NV on Thursday, Oct. 26. To be recognized as a Steward Award Winner the act of humankindness must affect five or more people across departments, symbolize humankindness, bring together multiple people to engage in a significant act of kindness and go well beyond the norm of compassion or service to humanity. Litzenberg is just one of more than 125 winners across Dignity Health.

Robyn Price, RN – Acts of Humankindness Award Winner
Earlier this summer, while rafting in Lake Tahoe, Price rescued a young boy in the deep lake waters. Seeing the boy disappear under water, Price – who works in Ambulatory Surgery Services – swam directly toward the boy while simultaneously pushing a raft. Together with three other men and her husband, the boy was safely brought to shore. “Because of you, my son is alive,” said the boy’s mother following the incident.

Bridget Proctor – Acts of Humankindness Award Winner
Patients who enter the ER frequently have inadequate clothing, which can be especially challenging upon discharge from the hospital. Recognizing an immediate need, Proctor from Transcription forged a partnership with San Andreas Community Covenant Church’s Clothes Closet to bring free clothing to the hospital for patients in need. Proctor’s compassion and care means that today, MTMC has well-stocked bins with loose-fitting clothing to ensure that all patients have access to clothing.

To be recognized as an Acts of Humankindness Award Winner, the act of humankindness must have had a significant impact on a co-worker, patient or family member, positive impact on the community and reinforce or highlight the importance of Dignity Health’s core values. Price and Proctor are two of just 310 winners across Dignity Health to receive this honor.

A celebration for Litzenberg, Price and Proctor and more than 30 Dignity Health Acts of Humankindness MTMC employee nominees will be held at MTMC on Monday, Oct. 23 to kick off Acts of Humankindness Week.

The Acts of Humankindness Awards are closely associated with Project Humankindness, first introduced by Dignity Health in 2014 to highlight and engage others in its mission to improve overall quality of life. Project Humankindness showcases the collective impact of the work that Dignity Health and its caregivers have been doing outside hospital walls over the past 20 years, including grants, investments and volunteerism.

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About Dignity Health
Dignity Health, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, is a 22-state network of more than 9,000 physicians, 62,000 employees, and 400 care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. In FY16, Dignity Health provided $2.2 billion in charitable care and services. For more information, please visit our website at www.dignityhealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

About Mark Twain Medical Center
Founded in 1951, Mark Twain Medical Center is a 25-bed, critical access hospital providing inpatient acute care, outpatient services and emergency services. The Medical Center’s Medical Staff represents a broad range of specialties that ensure access to high quality medical care in a rural community. In addition to being a major provider of health services, Mark Twain Medical Center is also one of the area’s largest employers. More than 300 people are employed at the hospital and its five Family Medical Centers. The Medical Center is a member of Dignity Health, the fifth largest not-for-profit healthcare system in the nation. For more information, please visit our website at www.marktwainmedicalcenter.org. Mark Twain Medical Center is also on Facebook.