Griffin Health recently honored more than 800 employees and physicians who reached service milestones of 5 years and more, and announced the 2025 Employee of the Year and Department of the Year award winner at its 53nd Annual Employee Service Awards Dinner at Aria in Prospect.
At an “outta sight” 1970s disco themed celebration, Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel personally presented gifts of appreciation to longtime employees and announced Griffin Hospital Security Officer Chris Collins as the 2025 Employee of the Year and the Griffin Hospital Emergency Department as the 2025 Department of the Year.
Collins Named Top Caregiver
A caregiver for nine years at Griffin Hospital, Collins has been a trusted leader in the Griffin Hospital Security Department, displaying an exceptional ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and manage conflict calmly, compassionately and professionally.
“Chris’s professionalism and genuine care for others are evident in all he does,” Charmel said of Collins at the celebration. “One notable example of his caring approach was his support techniques used for a hearing-impaired behavioral health patient. Chris spent a considerable amount of time patiently connecting with the patient, using his knowledge of basic sign language that he learned as a former camp counselor to ease the patient’s anxiety and build trust. His thoughtful approach helped the patient laugh, feel reassured, and discover music and games on a computer tablet, leaving a lasting positive impact.”
Griffin’s Employee of the Year selection come from its monthly I Take It Personally (ITIP) Award program where employees are nominated by their colleagues. Each month, up to four Griffin Health caregivers are selected for their efforts to improve patient satisfaction and promote Griffin’s commitment to patient-centered care. Of these ITIP winners, four are selected as finalists for the honor of Employee of the Year.
Emergency Department Named Departments of the Year
The Griffin Hospital Emergency Department was honored with Department of the Year for cultivating an environment where both patients and caregivers feel valued, listened to, and cared for.
In a high-pressure environment where the Griffin ED sees more than 35,000 patients a year and every second matters, the ED reduced median wait times for all patients, time from the admission decision to inpatient departure, time to get patients into a room, time to see and its rate of patients leaving without being seen.
“These achievements underscore the Emergency Department’s dedication to delivering efficient and compassionate care to every individual they serve,” Charmel said. “The heart of the ED is its frontline team. They’ve supported expectant mothers with baby essentials, comforted children with toys, provided clothing to those in need, and celebrated birthdays for long-term patients, making them feel a sense of belonging.”
The Department of the Year is selected from the four hospital departments selected as “Department of the Quarter” by the ITIP program.