Freddie Turner: Living Life by the Golden Rule

We’ve all heard the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Freddie Turner, a patient transporter with HHS, lives by this each day, to the point that he even has a tattoo of the phrase to remind him to do just that.

Freddie has been recognized multiple times by his facility in Alexandria, Louisiana for going above and beyond for the patients. Most recently the hospital leadership praised Freddie for helping a guest of a patient who was struggling to walk. 

After clocking out for the day, Freddie saw a woman struggling in the parking lot. He told her to wait there as he quickly went to grab a wheelchair. He then helped her into the facility and up to her daughter’s patient room. Every day after that, Freddie would visit the patient and her mother to make sure they had everything they needed. 

It made quite the impression that the woman sent the facility a note sharing her appreciation. 

This is not the first time Freddie has been recognized for his compassion. “It seems like we’re getting compliments about him on a weekly basis,” states Vice President of Patient Flow Alex Romero.

“Freddie is a hard worker and always is looking to pick up extra shifts. He is one that when he worked our PM shift and the overnight person called in, he would call me and say, ‘don’t worry about it, I got you covered,’” shares Freddie’s director, Michael Waits. 

Getting to Know Freddie

Freddie refers to himself as a family guy who is kind and generous and a lover of sports.  When asked what he loves about his job as a patient transporter he commented, “I love the opportunity to get to meet people and interact with them. I try to turn their frown into a smile and brighten their day.”

As a patient transporter, Freddie plays an important role in transporting patients from different areas across the hospital. Oftentimes, those individuals are feeling anxious as they head into surgery or visit radiology for different tests.

Freddie is there to provide them with comfort and ease. “Just letting the patient know that while they are in my care, I’m going to be there for them and get them from place to place safely.”

“Sometimes I’m the last person they see before heading home or into surgery, so I make it a point to lighten their day by any means that I can.”

Freddie owes his kindness to the values that were instilled in him by his mother. She taught him the importance of treating everyone the same. 

When asked why he goes above and beyond, Freddie simply states, “I have a mother, sister, and grandmother, and I would want someone to take the time to treat them the way I treat my patients.”

“I love being [at the hospital] and love interacting with the patients. I just do my job, that’s all. I’m not going to stop doing what I’m doing. I’m just going to do it better than before.”