Meet Baptist Legends Greg Perry and Shelly Smith
Greg Perry and Shelly Smith are registered nurses who work the night shift in the emergency department at Jay Hospital. They both worked Christmas Eve and were nearing the end of their shift to go home to their families on the stormy Christmas morning when the phone rang. On the other line was a physician who was on his way to work in the ER – he had just been involved in a car accident. On the phone, the doctor was disoriented and wasn’t sure where he was. Without hesitation, Greg grabbed his stethoscope and rain gear and headed out to find him while Shelly called 911. Greg found the car in the trees with the doctor pinned inside the vehicle. Greg rapidly assessed him, kept him calm and did what he could to help. Greg shared his findings and concerns with the ambulance crew and never left his co-worker and friend’s side. After the emergency crew removed the truck's door and retrieved the patient from the vehicle, Greg continued to communicate and advocate for his care. Greg drove to Baptist Hospital, where the doctor had been taken. After Shelly finished her shift, she drove to Baptist to be with Greg and the physician’s family and help however she could. She let her own family know she would be late arriving home for Christmas.
Both Greg and Shelly’s advocacy and communication did not stop there. When they arrived, they were strong voices for their friend. They communicated to the ER staff key pieces of assessment information that EMS had not passed along. This facilitated a faster move to a room with treatment of injuries that could have been life-threatening. Greg and Shelly stayed with the family for hours that Christmas day after working their 12-hour shifts. The doctor survived and, after months of therapy, later returned to work and his normal activities.
Through these events, Greg and Shelly showed what it means to live out Baptist values. Greg and Shelly make a positive difference in the lives of all the patients they touch, but they truly lived out Baptist values on that Christmas day. Their Ownership, Compassion, Excellence and Service make Greg and Shelly each a Baptist Health Care Legend.
