Division Awards of Distinction winners honored by HCA Healthcare West Florida Division

Tampa, FL – HCA Healthcare West Florida Division announced the recipients of its annual Awards of Distinction, part of an HCA Healthcare legacy to recognize those who exemplify the values and commitment to the company’s mission, which is, “Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.” The 2024 Division winners were selected from nominations across West Florida, each first earning their hospital award. They include:

• Timothy Rangel, Frist Humanitarian Award Employee recipient from HCA Florida Largo Hospital,
• Christa Thomas, Frist Humanitarian Award Volunteer recipient from HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital,
• Venu Lakshminarasim, Frist Humanitarian Award Physician, posthumously awarded from HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital,
• Richard Pass, Excellence in Nursing Award Compassionate Care recipient from HCA Florida Brandon Hospital,
• Mildred Abinader, Excellence in Nursing Award Professional Mentorship recipient from HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and
• Debra Griffith, Innovators Award recipient from HCA Florida Northside Hospital.

“Each of these winners exemplifies Excellence Always in their commitment to our purpose and our patients,” said HCA Healthcare West Florida Division President Jyric Sims. “We are honored to support Timothy Rangel, Christa Thomas, Dr. Venu Lakshminarasim, Richard Pass, Mildred Abinaber and Debra Griffith as they move on to compete nationally for the HCA Healthcare Enterprise Awards of Distinction which will be announced in September 2024.

Named in honor of HCA Healthcare founder Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., the Frist Humanitarian Award was started in 1971 to honor individuals for their humanitarian and volunteer efforts and is given to one colleague, one volunteer and one physician each year. HCA Healthcare later added the Excellence in Nursing Award - Compassionate Care, Excellence in Nursing Award -Professional Mentorship and Innovators Award to recognize the importance these attributes play as healthcare has evolved.

Timothy Rangel, Frist Humanitarian Award Employee

“Timothy Rangel is an exceptional colleague who always provides excellent care for our patients and our community,” according to Largo Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sebastian Strom who nominated him for the honor. Rangel joined the hospital in 2016 as an outpatient therapy coordinator and in 2018 he was promoted to social worker. Recently Rangel was promoted to his current position as manager of Case Management. Throughout his Largo Hospital career, he has lived one of Dr. Frist’s favorite mantra’s, “Take care of the patient and everything else will follow.” Strom described an example of Rangel’s tireless efforts to ensure a patient’s safe discharge home. The patient was homeless and without family or friends to provide care and support. After working with physicians, leadership, lawyers and the Embassy, Rangel was able to obtain housing and make travel arrangements for the patient back to the patient’s home country. When the patient’s condition declined rapidly before the trip home, Rangel stepped back in to assist. He arranged for hospice care and the patient passed peacefully. This is just one example of Rangel’s daily commitment to the care and improvement of the lives of our patients.

Christa Thomas, Frist Humanitarian Award Volunteer

Christa Thomas, is a Patient Discharge volunteer at Sarasota Doctors Hospital who believes that service to humanity is the best work of life, according to hospital CEO Bob Meade. For almost five years now, she drives from Venice each week to support hospital patients, their family members and friends, first serving as a Comfort Helper volunteer and now as the volunteer who discharges patients, sending them off with a positive message and the compassion the hospital staff provides throughout the patient’s hospital stay. In addition to providing more than 1,000 volunteer service hours to Sarasota Doctors Hospital, Thomas’s giving back extends far beyond the walls of the hospital. She has served as the Monday volunteer for more than 20 years for Meals on Wheels, an organization that sent a beautiful recommendation letter on her behalf for this honor, outlining how Thomas brings food, comfort and cheer to their clients each week. Other community organizations she has supported through her service commitment include the Blood Bank in Nokomis, Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto and Turtle Patrol on Venice Beach.

Dr. Venu Lakshminarasim, Frist Humanitarian Award Physician

Dr. Venu Lakshminarasim was an icon of selflessness who served the Pasco County community and Bayonet Point Hospital his entire career. CEO Sally Seymour notes that he is regarded highly for not only his medical expertise, but also in his knowledge of ethnic and cultural nuances. In addition to his dedication to his patients as a Gastroenterologist, he tirelessly served on numerous hospital Medical Staff committees, as Chief of Staff and on the Board of Trustees (BOT). The current BOT Chair notes that he was a man of unfailing integrity who always rose to the occasion when there was a need, whether it be at the request of a fellow physician, patient, staff member, administration or medical staff leadership. He was a member of the graduate medical education (GME) faculty supporting the next generation of physicians since the program’s beginnings which today includes Bayonet Point Hospital’s excellent Gastroenterology Fellowship program. He was involved with the Pasco County Medical Association to support the needs of physicians in the community at large. As a member of the Hindu Temple of Florida, he volunteered in a wide range of roles including working in the temple’s cafeteria and through religious discourses and studies, teaching classes and supporting the annual temple medical clinic for Indian immigrants and the local community. He truly embodied the humanitarian and volunteerism spirit this award was created to honor.

Richard Pass, Excellence in Nursing Award - Compassionate Care

Richard Pass has a passion for providing outstanding patient care and treating his patients and colleagues like family every day, which is legendary in Lakeland where he is an emergency room nurse at Brandon Hospital’s Lakeland Emergency. CEO Tripp Owings notes that he is loved by all of his patients and is an amazing mentor to his colleagues. Often mentioned in reviews be name, he is also the star of a recent hospital inspirational video campaign. Patient comments like the following are common, “Richard, our nurse was and is amazing! My 9-year-old daughter had a smile and was laughing even though she didn’t feel too well. Best bedside manner I’ve seen in a long time. We need more nurses like Richard in the world!” Here is another patient comment, “Nurse Richard was amazing and made me feel so comfortable. He was beyond nice and funny. Definitely a rare find in the medical field. I would and will return in the future just for the hospitality.” A colleague notes that Google reviews jumped from 3.4 to 4.9 in a two-month period with Richard being the nurse named in many of them. The colleague followed Richard only to hear his patients tell him of what a great nurse Richard is. The nurse is striving to model Richard’s skills noting, if he can only achieve a third of what Richard has accomplished, he will be upping his game 10 fold.

Mildred Abinader, Excellence in Nursing Award - Professional Mentoring

Mildred Abinader is a great nurse with a reputation for being an integral part of Brandon Hospital’s Medical/Surgical Department and a mentor to all, according to hospital CEO Tripp Owings. He noted is his nomination that she consistently exemplifies an Excellence Always culture and is a knowledgeable, nurturing and caring nurse who is always looking for opportunities to guide and inspire others. Abinader was born in the Philippines and came to the United States in 1995. She is influenced by her mother, a doctor, and believes that leaders don’t create followers, rather they create more compassionate leaders. She is a Medical Surgical Board Certified nurse, an active preceptor/mentor and member of the Caring Practice Council, Unit Based Council, Shared Governance Council and is the hospital’s Clinical Nurse Coordinator Council Chairperson. Abinader is highly regarded by her colleagues who note she leads by example, demonstrating the importance of lifelong learning, self-reflection and collaboration in the pursuit of excellence in nursing. She is always available to her staff, analyzes their challenges and engages as an active listener. Her contributions have helped create a supportive community of nurses who are invested in each other’s success and professional growth.

Debra Griffith, Innovators Award

Registered Nurse Debra Griffith demonstrated a remarkable blend of creativity, dedication and problem-solving skills to earn the 2024 Innovator Award honors, according to Northside Hospital Chief Operating Officer Amrit Dhillon. Griffith created a process for scanning telemonitor boxes at Northside Hospital to address concerns about missing equipment and patient monitoring through a careful analysis and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Colleagues note that Griffith consistently fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment, encouraging open communication and idea-sharing that led to a simple solution to improve inventory control, reduce loses and enhance patient safety.