Nason Employee Wins 'Highest Honor' LifePoint Offers

Julie Russell, who has been employed at Conemaugh Nason Medical Center for 14 years, was announced as a recipient of the 2021 Mercy Award.

The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program established in 2002 to honor the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, LifePoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a LifePoint employee can receive.

The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of LifePoint Health’s hospitals who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.

Russell started her career as a clinical supervisor and has grown to become the director of quality and infection prevention.

Russell has demonstrated tremendous leadership ability during the COVID-19 pandemic by guiding the hospital’s Risk Mitigation Plan with policies, procedures and processes, while all aligning with constantly changing guidelines.

Russell continued her focus on combating COVID-19 by working with hospital leadership to devise two large local community vaccine events reaching over 1,000 community members. Her commitment to quality patient care and process improvement played a major role in Conemaugh Nason’s Quality Designation recognition, obtained in November 2020.

Russell is also actively involved in the hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC).

“Julie is an integral part of our team at Conemaugh Nason, where her contributions over the past year have allowed us to safely and efficiently manage our response to the pandemic,” said Harclerode, who also serves as CEO of Conemaugh Miners Medical Center. “Each and every day, Julie demonstrates her ongoing commitment to our mission and her dedication to our patients in ways that inspire our entire organization.”