One day.

Their jobs are too important to have any more.

But that single day each year offers a chance to tell them how much their work, dedication and commitment to those they serve — their patients — is appreciated.

"As always, our medical staff is working hard and putting their patients first," said Union Hospital District CEO Bill Leonard. "But this is one day we can stop for just a few minutes to say ‘Thank you.’"

Leonard spoke those words at the opening of the hospital district’s annual National Doctor’s Day Breakfast on Tuesday morning as doctors, administrators and members of the public gathered to simply say "Thanks" to the people who put others before themselves on a daily basis.

Union Mayor Harold Thompson also was on hand to issue a proclamation declaring Tuesday as a special day to honor those men and women in the hospital district who practice medicine.

Doctors and others were treated to a breakfast complete with all the fixings, including pancakes specially prepared by Wallace Thomson Hospital food service director Hazel McKoy. Awards also were given by hospital director of case management and medical records Ann Brannan.

Doctor’s Day was first observed March 30, 1933, in Winder, GA, when Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, decided to set aside a day to honor physicians. The first observance included mailing greeting cards and placing flowers on graves of deceased doctors.

The red carnation — which adorned every table at Wallace Thomson Cafe on Tuesday morning — is commonly used as the symbolic flower for National Doctor’s Day.

The observance got a boost in 1958 when a resolution commemorating Doctor’s Day was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 30. Legislation was introduced in 1990 in the House and U.S. Senate to make Doctor’s Day nationwide and in October the same year President George H.W. Bush signed the bill designating March 30 as National Doctor’s Day.

"We take this opportunity to say ‘Thank you’ for their services to our community," Leonard said. "Our physicians are part of this community. They care deeply about their friends and neighbors and want to provide excellent care close to home."

Union County’s medical staff has helped put Wallace Thomson Hospital in the top 10 percent of hospitals across the nation and their commitment to providing the absolute best care possible to their patients in their offices and at the hospital is what sets them above others, according to Leonard.

"Other hospitals provide ‘hospitalists’ — physicians who see patients in the hospital only," he said. "Our physicians see their patients in the hospital to provide personalized care to their patients."

Each of the district’s 78 physicians — including those 15 employed directly by the hospital district and all other specialists on staff — are board certified and committed to serving the people of Union County.

"Physicians work around the clock to care for their patients," Leonard said. "They attend educational seminars to keep up with the changes in medical care. They work to stay current with new or improved treatments that may become available. Our medical staff provides excellent care."

It’s for that dedication and drive the district was pleased and excited to take a moment Tuesday to honor its physicians.

"Thank you all so much for all that you do," Leonard said.

EXCELLENCE IN

QUALITY AWARDS:

Here are the winners of the awards presented by Union Hospital District CEO Bill Leonard and hospital director of case management and medical records Ann Brannan during the special breakfast Tuesday morning in honor of National Doctors’ Day:

100 Percent Dating and Timing Orders: Dr. Gerald Fielder

0 Percent Delinquent Charts: Dr. Robert Wentz

100 Percent H & P (History and Physical) Dictated within 24 Hours: Dr. David Keith

Patient Accessibility: Dr. Robert Yannetti

Lowest Average Medical Length of Stay: Dr. Christopher McWhorter

Lowest Percent of Patients Over Standard Length of Stay: Dr. Alisahah Cole.

Wallace Thompson Hospital Chief of Staff Dr. Keith also was presented a trophy by Leonard with the word’s “Greatest Medical Staff in the World” as an honor to all physicians in the hospital district.