COOKEVILLE – Amy Rich, R.N., cardiovascular operating room (CVOR) director at Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC), was presented with the 2019 Martin Coffey Cardiovascular Service Award at the Cookeville Regional Charitable Foundation’s 12thannual A Woman’s Heart event on Thursday, Jan. 31. Scott Williams, COO at Cookeville Regional, made the presentation, citing Rich’s dedication and loyalty to the heart surgery program at Cookeville Regional.
Rich has been in healthcare for more than 19 years with over 16 of those years at Cookeville Regional. She received her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Cumberland University. She spent time working at Vanderbilt University, Smith’s Pharmacy in Cookeville, and Summit Medical Center before coming to Cookeville Regional as an ER nurse in 2003. Rich went on to work in surgery at Cookeville Regional and found her niche in open heart surgery in 2006. From there she was promoted to the CVOR nurse manager and in 2012 became the CVOR director where she currently serves.
In her nomination letter, it was mentioned that her leadership style is what keeps the CVOR team together under all circumstances. She is a great communicator and stays on top of quality data to ensure that everything is flowing in a timely manner, which makes the CVOR operate successfully. She is well respected by her peers and is the glue that keeps the physicians on target daily. She takes pride in her work and she is well deserving of this award.
Rich has played a large role in the growth and success of the heart surgery program. From the two new state-of-art CVOR rooms being completed a few years ago to seeing the development of the TAVR program at CRMC through, she has given tremendous dedication to this medical center.
Amy and her husband, Jeff, have three children, Claire, Cole and Ellie.
About the Martin Coffey Award
The Martin Coffey Cardiovascular Service Award is given to an individual who has made a positive impact and best exemplifies the same dedication and loyalty in broadening the scope and delivery of quality cardiovascular care to the patients of CRMC and the Upper Cumberland region as Coffey did during his tenure as the founding director of the Heart and Vascular Center of Cookeville Regional Medical Center (1994-2007). Coffey was instrumental in the development of creating what is known today as the Heart and Vascular Center at Cookeville Regional.
