Andalusia Regional Hospital presented its annual Mercy Award to community relations director Patty Ashworth this week.

The Mercy Award was established in 2002 to honor the life of Scott Mercy, founding chairman and CEO of LifePoint Hospitals. It recognizes one hospital employee who best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded by embracing the company’s “high five” values and showing a commitment to patients, the community and co-workers.

Sharon Kinsaul, who nominated Ashworth for the award, wrote, “Our community knows Patty well and they make the connection to ARH immediately. Whether she is in the community or at work, patients always call her by name and believe me, she knows their name.”

Ashworth has served as president of both the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce and the Andalusia Kiwanis Club. She is a past board member of the LBW Foundation and the Covington County Chapter of the American Red Cross. She was named Kiwanian of the year in 2000.

Kinsaul wrote that Ashworth never loses focus on ARH’s purpose, and often helps others remember it, too.

“She has an owner, not a renter mentality,” Kinsaul stated. “She pushes herself and her peers to be accountable for their profession where caring and compassion are concerned. We are so busy we often lose focus of the reason for being here.

“What does it take to make us stop and remember our purpose? Sometimes it takes a co-worker bold enough to go against the grain to make a simple request for a co-worker to go above and beyond or to think outside the box.”

Each year, the local Mercy Award winner receives a $500 check, a dozen roses, and is nominated for LifePoint’s company-wide award.