Palmyra hosts holiday luncheon

ALBANY, Ga. — The administration at Palmyra Medical Center is doing its part to help spread holiday cheer.

Roughly 700 meals were served at the hospital’s annual holiday luncheon earlier this week.

“The meal is one of the ways they (Palmyra’s administration) show us they value our service,” said Theresa Weiss, who works with quality improvement at the hospital.

CEO Mark Rader and Chief Financial Officer Karen Hayes were among the administration members serving the food.

“Every one works so hard during the year, so management comes out and assists,” said Marketing Director Eric Riggle. “We try to do something special at holiday time, and we want to have interaction with employees.”

And it’s a gesture the employees appreciate.

“We’re a small hospital, and it further reiterates that whatever they can do to help out, they will do,” Weiss said.

At a meal, the atmosphere is an element that can be just as important as the food itself.

“That’s really the icing on the cake,” said Misty Milling, risk manager at Palmyra. “It really puts you in the Christmas spirit. “They did a great job.”

Officials with the hospital were also able to book members of the Albany Marine Band for the luncheon — which was a new addition to the event from years past.

“The opportunity presented itself, and we thought it would be the perfect chance for them to help us celebrate,” Riggle said.

This was the first holiday meal hosted at the hospital since the renovation of Palmyra’s food services division to include the Park Place Cafe, which opened at the hospital’s cafeteria in February.