Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital have announced the launch of “Humans Who Heal,” a campaign aimed at recognizing all staff members who contribute to patient care. The initiative is designed to spotlight not only physicians and nurses but also clinical coordinators, quality analysts, laboratory technicians, environmental services workers, and administrative staff.
The campaign begins with Amanda Stafford, RN, who serves as Disease Specific Care Coordinator for both hospitals. Stafford’s responsibilities include quality analysis, data abstraction, and coordination of chest pain and stroke programs.
“My title is RN Disease Specific Care Coordinator, but I serve as a quality analyst, data abstractor, Chest Pain program coordinator, and Stroke program coordinator for both Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospitals. I started here at Harris Regional in 2018 on the medical/surgical unit in direct patient care. I have been in my current role since 2022,” said Stafford.
Stafford described her inspiration for entering healthcare: “I was raised by a nurse and began volunteering in long-term care facilities very early in my life. In my life, I have had the honor of coming to know many wonderful nurses and mentors, both personally and professionally. I love bedside nursing, but I made the decision to transition into my current role because I have always had a curiosity and interest in knowing the reasoning behind the practices and why we do things in a certain way.”
She emphasized the importance of education within rural communities served by the hospitals: “Our communities are located in remote areas with limitations on offered services. I attend community events to help spread awareness on heart and brain health, as well as heart attack symptom recognition and early actions. This awareness and education can help people within our area recognize and respond quickly to activate appropriate emergency services.”
“Here at the hospital, I help oversee the chest pain and stroke programs to ensure that we are delivering the most up-to-date, evidence-based practices and staying compliant with our overseeing organizations. All of this leads to faster recognition and timely diagnostics and treatments, which ultimately lead to better outcomes for our patients,” she added.
Reflecting on her career path at Harris Regional Hospital alongside her family legacy in nursing, Stafford said: “Honestly, I would have to say my very first day off of orientation that I worked on the floor (2N). This was my birthday, but it was so much more amazing for another reason. Many years prior, my mother began her nursing career at Harris Regional on the exact same unit. It solidified that I was beginning my journey as a nurse in her footsteps. Even though our careers have taken two very different pathways, I will always be honored to have begun mine in the same place that she did — and I only hope that in the span of my career, I can touch as many lives as she has.”
Stafford shared her view on healing: “To me, healing is taking care of all aspects of your holistic health, which includes the needs of both the body and mind as a singular unit. Disruptions or unmet needs in either of these areas can cause a decline in overall health. It is important that healthcare systems support healing on a holistic level.”
Explaining more about her department’s work behind-the-scenes at both hospitals’ Quality Departments she noted: “The Quality Department oversees the overall quality and safety within a hospital. This department may not be in front-line care, but every aspect of our work serves as a bridge between front-line patient care and leadership/regulatory bodies to ensure that the care delivered at our facility meets and exceeds the guidelines and expectations for performance.”
The Humans Who Heal campaign will continue throughout 2025 by highlighting other team members across departments.
