Johnston Health recognizes three ambassadors

Submitted by JOHNSTON HEALTH

SMITHFIELD — Johnston Health has recognized Stephanie Lombard, a financial support representative in the business office, as Ambassador of the Month for January; Tammy Braswell, the lead CT technologist in radiology as Ambassador of the Month for February and Lynn Rhodes, the intake nurse at Johnston Health Home Care & Hospice, as Ambassador of the Month for March.

During a recent presentation, Johnston Health CEO Tom Williams said Lombard offers new ideas, solves problems and is always willing to help her teammates by sharing her knowledge and expertise. Her area of focus is billing for home health and hospice.

Before coming to Johnston Health, Lombard worked in medical billing and coding at Trinity Health in Massachusetts. She started at age 17 delivering meal trays and sitting with patients. She enjoyed the work so much that she thought about becoming a nurse. But when she changed jobs and worked as a file clerk, she began learning about the hospital’s business side and loved it. In 2018, she and her husband, Todd, moved to North Carolina for his job as an insurance appraiser. And after being a stay-at-home mom for a few months, she applied for an opening in the business office at Johnston Health.

“I like change and seeing opportunities to grow,” Lombard said. “And I like that we’re all working together here as a team.”

Lombard is now working toward a master’s degree in health care management. And, she says she’s still tinkering with the idea of becoming a nurse one day.

The couple lives in Bailey and has a 12-year-old daughter, Leah, who is a competitive cheerleader.

Williams said Braswell stands out for her work to ensure that patients with symptoms of stroke get the timely CT scans needed for a diagnosis and treatment.

“With 33 years of experience in our radiology department, she is a valuable resource,” Williams said. “She is a thoughtful leader who is always willing to train and assist her teammates.”

Braswell says she loves the community, the hospital and her work family. “When I first started in 1987 as an X-ray technologist, I enjoyed the convenience of working close to home. But through the years, it’s become so much more,” she said.

“My work family are the sisters and brothers I never had,” Braswell continued. “We’ve been through births, sickness and death. We share the same level of commitment, compassion and respect.”

She and her husband, Roy, live in Princeton and have two grown daughters and a granddaughter.

Williams said Rhodes is a fierce advocate who goes above and beyond to get the physician referrals and insurance coverage required to get the services that patients are seeking.

“She shares information with medical offices so that everyone is clear on what’s needed,” he says.

“She’s always willing to learn and grow. She offers solutions instead of placing blame,” Williams said. “She is the voice on the phone that everyone wants to hear.”

Before joining Johnston Health 14 years ago, Rhodes was a regional director for a home health agency for 16 years and had as many as 800 patients in her area. “I needed to downsize and this job was the perfect fit,” she said.

“I love home health now just as much as I did when I first started 30 years,” Rhodes continued. “I get to make a difference in the lives of patients, and I feel that serving others is my calling.”

Rhodes and her husband, Vernon, live near Bentonville and have three grown children and two grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching the cooking channel on TV and painting, which she began as a hobby when she was in high school.

Through the ambassador program, Johnston Health recognizes employees who go above and beyond the call of duty. They deliver quality care, foster teamwork and offer excellent service.

In addition to a designated month-long parking space, Lombard, Braswell and Rhodes each received eight hours of paid time off.

Johnston Health CEO Tom Williams, second from left, congratulates Lynn Rhodes on being named Johnston Health Ambassador of the Month for March. At left is Beth Walker, clinical manager of home care and hospice, and at right is Tracey Carson, associate vice president of patient care services.

Johnston Health recently recognized Stephanie Lombard as its Ambassador of the Month. From left are Katlyn Creech, analyst and specialty services supervisor in the business office; Eddie Klein, chief financial officer; Lombard; CEO Tom Williams; and Angela Deans, director of patient financial services.

CEO Tom Williams, left, congratulates Tammy Braswell on being named Johnston Health Ambassador of the Month. At right is Josh Hoover, director of radiology. In addition to a parking sign and designated parking spot, Braswell will receive eight hours of paid time off.