By By MaryClaire Foster
Brightening the hallways of Atmore Community Hospital are the annual door decorations from hospital departments.
Linda Lowery, director of human resources, said the event is something the hospital looks forward to every year.
There is no overall theme for the doors except for the holidays, leaving each department the license to be as creative as possible.
Eleven departments participated this year, four less from last year, which Lowery attributed to busier schedules and some people wanting to decorate just for fun, not as part of the competition.
The decorated doors were judged on Dec. 22, and Lowery said the four judges were chosen for their impartiality.
The four judges for the event were Suzanne McGill, Mary Jane Schrock, Ashley Strawbridge, who are all managers at the hospital, and Joan Oliver, a Baptist Health employee.
Tying for first place were the Emergency Room and the Med-Surg departments. The Emergency Room posted a “recipe” for a happy Christmas, which featured a home with snow made of cotton sheets. Med-Surg decorated with photos of each employee making up a miniature choir.
Physical therapy, which finished third, decorated with a nursery rhyme theme that related to the retelling of the 12 days of Christmas.
Shane White, physical therapy director, said the door-decorating contest was a lot of fun for the department.
A poem featured on the door read:
A cross for salvation and forgiveness;
A friend that will never leave me;
Citizenship in the kingdom of heaven;
Angels for protection and doing his will;
A spirit of compassion and giving;
A song of praise, worship and good cheer;
Provision for my every need; freedom of fear and evil;
A heart filled of love and kindness;
A dream to imagine the future;
Healing of all sickness and disease;
Jesus Christ, our savior and new born king!”
The two winning first place departments received $50 and third place received $25.
Because of the tie for first place, a second place winner was not chosen.
Lowery said what the department does with the prize money is up to the employees.
The doors were decorated with a wide array of themes, from religious to eco-friendly.
The Dietary department was last year’s winner and this year had a door with the phrase, “Spooning up holiday cheer,” and made angels out of plastic spoons.
Accounting reminded everyone why there is a Christmas with a door saying, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” that had a faux stained-glass window depicting the holy family.
Radiology wrapped their door like a present and made a play on X-rays saying, “It’s what’s inside that counts!”
Surgery combined religious scenes with a traditional Santa Claus and Christmas tree and hung mini-stockings with employees’ names on each.
The pharmacy went “green” with its door, using old newspapers and lid tops from antibiotics as ornaments on a tree made from pharmacy technician supervisor Gina Sharpless’ hands.
The outpatient department wrapped their door with gold paper and attached paper ornaments.
Medical records decorated with a nativity scene and Bible verses describing the night of Christ’s birth.
The lab created a “lab angel” and hung photos of their own angels, their family members.
Editor’s Note: The Physical Therapy department’s door was taken down before photographs were able to be taken.