Haywood Regional Medical Center Names 2021 Mercy Award Winner

Haywood Regional Medical Center (HRMC) recently announced that Levi Henson, CNA, has been recognized as the hospital’s 2021 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 Haywood Regional Medical Center, 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 Greg Caples, CEO of HRMC. “We are extremely proud to recognize Levi Henson for his efforts on behalf of our patients and our community. He goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that every person he encounters receives the highest level of care and compassion.”

Levi Henson is known for his compassionate care. Hired as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), he learned to work as a secretary and became a trainer for new CNAs. He has worn many other hats, too: an auditor for all the inpatient nursing units to prepare for Haywood’s The Joint Commission survey, a fit tester for N95 masks (especially when COVID began more people needed to be fitted, and as a member of the Falls Committee, coming up with ways to keep patients safe.

When he’s not at work, Henson is a dedicated member of his local church, East Fork Baptist Church, serving as both choir director and treasurer. During COVID, he organized drive-through meals for his congregation and community. He cares for the elders of the church, whether they need prayer, a meal, or just a friendly smiling face. He leads funeral services, and other activities as needed. He’s also an active part of the Cruso Community Center. An avid quilter, he teaches classes and participates in many contests. When COVID began he started making surgical caps and facemasks for his co-workers and community. Levi also cooks meals for the community, has helped set up scholarships for kids in the community, and has held community clean-ups for local schools. He’s a true community asset - both at work and home.

Each hospital winner, including Levi Henson, will be considered for LifePoint’s 2021 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in August, to which Henson and all hospital winners are invited to attend.