Clinch Valley Health recently announced that Patty Yates has been recognized as the hospital’s 2020 Mercy Award winner. 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.

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.

“At Clinch Valley Health, we share LifePoint’s commitment to making communities healthier, and we recognize this is supported by the good work and service of our employees on and off the job,” said Peter Mulkey, CEO of Clinch Valley Health. “We are extremely proud to recognize Patty for her efforts on behalf of our patients and our community. She goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that every person she encounters receives the highest level of care and compassion.”

Patty Yates has been employed at Clinch Valley Physicians Associates for 30 years as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Patty is often described as an angel on Earth by her friends, family and patients. She is constantly cooking and delivering hot meals to those who cannot cook for themselves. Patty not only delivers the meals, but she stays and visits. Patty cheerfully spends her weekends and days off serving her neighbors by completely cleaning their homes when they are recuperating from illnesses.  Nobody asked Patty to do this, Patty simply noticed that they were unable to keep up with their housekeeping responsibilities and happily stepped up to help. Patty has been selflessly serving her loved ones for decades.  As our community has navigated through the COVID-19 environment Patty has predictably stepped up to the plate to ensure elderly neighbors are getting the essentials.  Over the past few months Patty has constantly checked on people who were especially vulnerable.  In our rural community, grocery and pharmacy delivery services are often unavailable. Patty recognized that many people needed help and has consistently shopped for groceries, picked up prescriptions and run other errands for her friends, family and neighbors. Patty adapts her thoughtfulness and generosity to serve others through any circumstance.

Each hospital winner, including Patty Yates, will be considered for LifePoint’s 2020 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in October, to which Patty and all hospital winners are invited to attend.