Sometimes, cooking the right burger will make a patient’s day.
When Rex Bartles, Director of Operations for Food and Nutrition Services, recently learned that a patient at Augusta Piedmont Hospital in Augusta, Ga., was craving a hamburger from his favorite Augusta restaurant, he pulled his team together to take action.
It wasn’t long before Executive Chef Daniel Pulling went to the patient’s room to take the patient’s order. The chef found that the patient’s favorite burger came from Sports Center, a landmark downtown Augusta restaurant known for its burgers and steaks whose former owner was a one-time caddie at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Chef Daniel found that the restaurant used an old, well-seasoned flat-top griddle to make a “smash burger” – and he was confident he could make one the patient would love. He grilled the beef, added seasoning from Lillies of Charleston Beef N’ Burger mix and placed it on a toasted a fresh brioche bun. The patient only liked mustard on his burger – no mayo, onions or anything else.
The patient relayed his gratitude to the Morrison team, letting them know their burger was even better than the one from his favorite restaurant!
“My team is amazing, and they realize the opportunity we have every day to make a patient’s stay a little better through our food and service,” says Rex. “With Chef Daniel, Patient Services Manager, Sonya Reese, and the rest of my wonderful team, I know together, we can make it happen.”
For Rex, Patient Care is Personal
Patient care is always the top priority among every Morrison food and nutrition team. However, Rex’s deep personal and family ties to the Augusta community adds to his passion to make every patient’s hospital stay memorable.
Born and raised in Augusta, he knows many of the people who are patients. His father was also born and raised there, and his mother worked as a nurse at the hospital.
“Caring for those in his community is the most important thing to him,” says Lindsey McNeil, Morrison Healthcare Human Resources Manager. “He has lived in Augusta his whole life and knowing he can be there when people need him the most is his favorite part of his job.”
Rex knows many patients personally. He said, “I’m at the age where most of my friends are starting their families here, so I know many who are giving birth. I also know many of the older patients. My father and the parents of my friends are also at the age where hospital visits are more frequent.”
For example, when Rex’s wife’s best friend gave birth to their second child, the team treated them to dinner with white linen tablecloth service. And when the wife of one of Rex’s high school friends gave birth to their third girl, he put out the word to his team to let them know to take even extra care of the mother.
“Even if I haven’t talked to old friends for some time, if I notice on social media that they may be here, I may send them a message to ping me when they get here so we can make the experience a little better.”
Recently, a patient who was in isolation and on a restricted diet for several days received round-the-clock care from Sonya Reese. She not only helped oversee his diet, but made certain to communicate regularly with the patient’s wife during the stay.
While it’s his job to care each patient, Rex acknowledges the importance his hometown means to him.
“My dad raised me to always do what’s right and that means every patient deserves the best care possible. Because I know so many of the patients, I try to make sure our team takes it just a step further for them and their family members. Each one of them is an important part of our community and needs to know they are getting the best care possible.”
