Piedmont Rockdale honors emergency department employee for lifesaving efforts

Conyers, Ga. (July 16, 2026) – Piedmont Rockdale Hospital recently recognized three employees as its fiscal year 2026 Promise 360 annual award winners, honoring team members who exemplify Piedmont’s commitment to excellence and patient-centered care.

The annual awards celebration on June 25 recognized the hospital’s monthly Promise 360 winners from July 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026. Hospital leadership also announced an Annual Champion and two Annual Spotlight honorees.

“The Promise 360 Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate staff who demonstrated exceptional ownership, teamwork, and compassion,” said Piedmont Rockdale CEO Monica Hum, MD. “I’m proud to work alongside these team members and congratulate them on their well-deserved awards.”

Dolores Thrash, a unit secretary in the Emergency Department (ED), was named the annual champion for her quick thinking during a life-threatening situation involving a patient with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). LVADs help pump blood throughout the body for patients with heart failure.

In March 2026, a patient arrived in the ED with only minutes remaining on his LVAD battery and no spare batteries available. When Thrash learned that the patient’s wife had fully charged batteries but was in DeKalb County, she contacted the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office and coordinated with a deputy to retrieve them. The deputy picked up the batteries and brought them to Piedmont Rockdale in record time. Thrash met the deputy outside and delivered the batteries to the patient before his device stopped working. 

“Dolores’ commitment to our patients and quick thinking saved the gentleman’s life,” said Monica West, BSN, RN, clinical manager of Piedmont Rockdale’s ED, who nominated Thrash for the award.

Suzie Shiver, a CT technician, and Laurie Amdur, a senior financial analyst, were named the Spotlight honorees.

Shiver was honored for her bravery and swift response to an active fire in Radiology. Shiver was working the night shift in March 2026 when her colleague smelled smoke. She ensured patients remained monitored, investigated the source of the smoke, and found a portable X-ray machine on fire. Shiver immediately pulled the fire alarm, retrieved a fire extinguisher and extinguished the flames before they could spread.

When the fire department arrived, responders noted that an oxygen tank on a nearby wheelchair was positioned close to the fire and said Shiver’s rapid response prevented a more dangerous emergency.

Amdur was recognized for ensuring payroll and timekeeping changes were applied correctly during inclement weather in January 2026. After last-minute changes to Piedmont Rockdale’s timekeeping procedures, Amdur manually reviewed nearly 1,000 timecards to confirm that inclement wait and weather pay were applied appropriately.

Working beyond her regular hours for several consecutive days, Amdur partnered with Piedmont’s timekeeping vendor and unit leaders to resolve discrepancies. She identified approximately 650 hours of inclement wait and weather pay that had been incorrectly applied, resulting in numerous payroll corrections and substantial savings for the hospital. Amdur also alerted leaders when she found instances in which staff members received fewer hours than they had earned, demonstrating fairness and integrity.

The Promise 360 program recognizes Piedmont employees who go above and beyond to make a positive difference in the lives of patients, families, colleagues and communities. Annual winners represent the highest standards of service and are selected from among honorees recognized throughout the fiscal year.