Published: Friday, November 20, 2020 8:58 am

American Health Partners, a Franklin, Tennessee-based company that provides a wide range of health care services, honored 43 employees on November 13 for their dedication to providing high quality health care and outstanding service over the past year. The third annual Star Awards ceremony was celebrated via Zoom for employees who live in six of the seven states where the company operates.

During the live presentation, winners tuned in to the Zoom call to hear accolades from company leaders. In many company locations, staff held watch parties to celebrate the frontline caregivers and their supporting colleagues in American Health Partners' seven divisions. Honorees, who represent just 1% of the company's 4,300 workers were nominated by their managers and selected by a committee of leaders. Those being recognized had demonstrated by their actions the company's values of respect, integrity, teamwork, professionalism, excellence and compassion.

"I have been so proud of how our teams came together to confront the COVID-19 pandemic," said CEO Mike Bailey. "Our colleagues at American Health Partners have worked with purpose and teamwork every day to deliver on our mission to provide compassionate, high quality health care. These Stars are the best of the best, and we're thrilled to recognize them."

The Stars also received congratulatory messages from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and a host of sports and music celebrities.

Star Award winners from the American Health Partners' corporate office and service center were:

• Brad Brandt, Franklin, Tenn.
• Jacob Walker, Parsons, Tenn.
• Doug Vaughn, Franklin, Tenn.

Receiving awards in the American Health Communities division, which operates 29 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities, were:

• Deanna Baldwin, AHC Decatur County (Parsons, Tenn.)
• Teresa Ballentine, AHC Meadowbrook (Pulaski, Tenn.)
• Loretta Barrett, AHC Mt. Juliet (Tenn.)
• Nakiah Burks, American Health Communities (Tenn.)
• Beth Blair, AHC Humboldt (Tenn.)
• Savannah Choate, AHC Vanco (Goodlettsville, Tenn.)
• Jeni Crumby, AHC Savannah (Tenn.)
• Shelby Daniels, AHC Bethesda (Tenn.)
• Katherine Dean, AHC Millennium (Huntsville, Ala.)
• Allison Garrett, AHC Lexington (Tenn.)
• Heather Giles, Dyersburg (Tenn.)
• Becky Griffith, AHC Union City (Tenn.)
• Janice Hansel, AHC Westwood (Decaturville, Tenn.)
• Colleen Hendricks, AHC Waverly (Tenn.)
• Anjana Mishra, AHC Cumberland (Nashville, Tenn.)
• Emmalyn Mood, AHC Paris (Tenn.)
• Rachel Murphy, AHC McKenzie (Tenn.)
• Shari Peterson, AHC West Tennessee Trans. (Tenn.)
• Marion Powell, AHC Applingwood (Tenn.)
• James Robenault, AHC McKenzie (Tenn.)
• Jodi Romero, AHC Northbrooke (Jackson, Tenn.)
• April Sangster, AHC Covington Care (Covington, Tenn.)
• Brandy Smith, AHC McNairy County (Selmer, Tenn.)
• Sandranetta Thompson, AHC Bright Glade (Tenn.)
• Katie Vick, AHC Savannah (Tenn.)
• Deb Worrell, AHC VanAyer (Tenn.)

From American Health Plans, which owns and manages institutional special needs plans (ISNPs) for Medicare beneficiaries living in long-term care facilities, Star Awards were given to two employees:

• Lisa Claar, Georgia Health Advantage
• Danielle Ward, American Health Advantage of Missouri

Star Award recipients from AmPharm, a long-term-care pharmacy serving senior care and rehabilitation facilities, included:

• April Brooks, Tupelo, Miss.
• Debbi Creasy, Parsons, Tenn.

At Rehab America, which provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy in skilled nursing facilities, Star Awards went to:

• Sara Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn.
• Nikki Orazine, Bethesda, Tenn.

At Tennessee Quality Care, which works with individuals and skilled nursing facilities to provide comprehensive home health and hospice services winners were:

• Melissa Kirk, Jackson, Tenn.
• LaStacia Peele, Clarksville, Tenn.
• Erik Mitchell, Paris, Tenn.

At TruHealth, whose nurse practitioners and physician assistants provide medical treatment and care coordination in nursing homes with specialized Medicare plans, Star Awards were earned by:

• Bridget Grover, TruHealth - Kansas
• Tina Fletcher, TruHealth - Georgia

Star Awards were also given to team members at Unity Psychiatric Care, which operates five psychiatric hospitals, primarily for seniors, to provide short-term care due to a mental health crisis or behavioral disturbances caused by dementia. Honorees included:

• Jessica Nance, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
• Tennell Sherrod, Huntsville, Ala.
• Jennifer Taylor, Martin, Tenn.

"It is inspiring to honor the individuals in our company who set the standard for excellence," Bailey said. "This has been a very trying year for our caregivers, patients and their families. Though we all have different roles, together we've shouldered a sacred responsibility to protect the health and well-being of those in our care."

A recording of the event will be available for all employees to view in the next few weeks.