Saline Health System names Mercy Award winner for 2024

BENTON, Ark. (June 25, 2024) – Saline Memorial Hospital recently announced that Shantonio Elliott has been recognized as the hospital’s 2024 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: compassion, dedication and a merciful spirit.

Elliott has worked in clinic operations and medical management for 14 years, including two and a half years with Saline Physician Services. As practice administrator, he oversees day-to-day operations for all the clinics in the Saline Clinics network.

“Shantonio’s unwavering dedication to exceeding expectations, to going above and beyond the call of duty, is truly exceptional, reflecting a level of commitment and compassion that transcends the regular requirements of his role,” said Mike Gilmore, director of Saline Physician Services. “Throughout all his interactions, Shantonio consistently demonstrates profound respect for others, showing empathy, understanding and kindness in every endeavor.”

Outside of his professional role, Elliott actively serves the Saline County community through volunteerism with the Central Arkansas Sphinx Foundation, where he serves as secretary of the executive board. In this role, he was instrumental in securing USDA grants totaling $2 million to help address food insecurity. He is also an alumnus of Leadership Saline County and now serves on the organization’s board of directors.

“His genuine concern for the wellbeing of others, coupled with his unwavering dedication to affect meaningful change, serves as a source of inspiration to all who have the privilege of crossing paths with him,” Gilmore said.

Each hospital winner, including Elliott, will be considered for Lifepoint’s companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, in August.

Saline Health System, a part of Lifepoint Health, is made up of Saline Memorial Hospital, a 177-bed acute care facility, and Saline Clinics, a network of both primary care and specialty care clinics. The hospital is accredited through The Joint Commission for meeting quality and safety standards, the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI, the MBSAQUIP as a bariatric surgery center, Optum in the Bariatric Centers of Excellence network, CARF as a rehabilitation center and the AASM as a sleep center. For more information about Saline Memorial Hospital, please call 501.776.6000 or visit SalineMemorial.org. For more information about Lifepoint Health, visit LifepointHealth.net .