General News
Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation presented the third annual Dr. Chris Aul Patient Safety & Quality Award this week to three deserving Cape Fear Valley Health team members who make patient safety and quality care a priority each and every day. This year the award was presented to two clinical staff, Pharmacist Emily Cooley and Dr. Peggy Robinson, and one nonclinical staff, Patient Relations Manager Cortnie Langston.
“The awards committee look at each nomination for a dedication to continued delivery of essential services, a commitment to patient safety and following safety protocols, and unwavering efforts to deliver high quality patient care,” said Foundation Director Sabrina Brooks.
All nominees and recipients were recognized at the Patient Safety Week Leadership Assembly on Tuesday. Winners received a $500 prize to be used for continuing education or to support a patient safety initiative.
About the winners
Emily Cooley is a Transitions of Care Pharmacist at Valley Pharmacy. Her nomination described her as an asset who frequently reaches out to doctors to request medications and constantly provides education to others.
“Emily works very closely with the Discharge Clinic to reinforce the continuum of care,” her nomination said. “Her work has been successful with ensuring that patients are getting the right medications and their discharge follow-up appointments.”
Dr. Peggy Robinson is a hospitalist at Betsy Johnson Hospital. In her nomination, she was lauded for her unwavering commitment to improving patient care and ensuring the safety of both patients and healthcare staff, especially those in the residency programs.
“Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Robinson plays a key role in helping residents navigate the complexities of the electronic health record system, particularly with the Epic system,” her nomination said. “She teaches residents important in-patient Epic tips that ensure orders are processed correctly and patients receive the care they need without delay. This guidance is vital to preventing errors and improving the efficiency of care delivery, which directly contributes to patient safety.”
Cortnie Langston was praised for her data-driven approach to process improvement and for constantly challenging herself while helping others and brightening their days.
“Cortnie is a true change agent and advocate for the betterment of patient safety and quality of care, day in and day out,” her nomination said. “She’s extremely passionate about bringing forth meaningful change in the world of healthcare and shows it in all the hard work she continues to put in.”
About the awards
Dr. Chris Aul retired in 2022 from Cape Fear Valley Health, after 40 years of service. He was associate chief medical officer for Quality and Patient Safety when he retired. The award is named in his honor, in recognition of his commitment to a culture of high-quality care and patient safety. Nominees must be employees of Cape Fear Valley Health or affiliated with its work.
The award is supported by the Dr. Chris Aul Patient Safety and Quality Endowment, held by the Foundation. The endowment was established at Dr. Aul’s retirement to support ongoing patient safety and quality of care initiatives at Cape Fear Valley Health in honor of Dr. Aul’s 40 years of service to his patients, Cape Fear Valley Health and the community.
