When Dr. Wylie Reeder Harbin began practicing medicine in 1871, he aimed to bring top-notch healthcare to Northwest Georgia, and he hoped his standards would carry on for years to come. 150 years later, the clinic’s gifted personnel continue Dr. Harbin’s legacy and have harnessed their talents to create an outstanding experience for patients. Today, Harbin Clinic has built on this history to promote its most valuable asset: its people.
Here are three fine examples:
BJ Johnson came to Harbin Clinic 32 years ago and worked as a doctor’s receptionist. Today, she is a certified medical assistant floater, a position that travels between locations and specialties to cover the various needs in each office. Johnson will welcome patients to the practice, check vitals, administer injections and assist the physician in whatever capacity is needed.
Her career advancement and long tenure on the job illustrate the kind of encouragement she has received at Harbin Clinic. Johnson especially feels valued as she shuttles between various work locations. “My co-workers and physicians are so appreciative of my coming in,” she says, “and I’ve always been treated remarkably well here. We’re one big family.”
Tribb Robison has been at Harbin Clinic since 2010. Like BJ Johnson, his work here has offered him a path to exploring new opportunities. He worked in the business office for four years before transitioning to IT, where he now serves as Manager of Technology Services. He enjoys the challenge of keeping abreast of all the changes and trends in the technology world and being part of a team that ensures Harbin Clinic’s IT environment stays current.
Robison feels empowered with how such a large healthcare organization still fosters a personal experience between staff and patients. “This is a big organization that still celebrates and practices the small-town values that the clinic was built on,” Robison says. “I’m not just a number here. Our IT team is small, but we’re a tight-knit group.”
As a vascular sonographer, Brooke Broom conducts ultrasounds on patients’ vascular systems, allowing the surgeons to see what they need to treat. Though only at Harbin Clinic for seven months so far, she feels like she receives the same respect and is held to the same standard as a veteran.
When she became a patient herself, being diagnosed with breast cancer, she discovered her workmates were ready to rally around her. She says she received an overwhelming amount of support from her coworkers as well as from management. “They told me to take the time I needed to take care of me,” Broom says. “They always encouraged me.”
What do an IT manager, a certified medical assistant, and a vascular sonographer have in common? This: they all highly recommend Harbin Clinic to anyone considering employment in the medical field. Broom says, “Go for it! If it’s outside your comfort zone, you’ll be supported all the way.” Johnson agrees: “Working here, you’ll continue to learn. Our physicians are great teachers.”
For these three professionals, Harbin Clinic means more than a paycheck. The work matters because it contributes to the greater mission. As Tribb Robison puts it, “At the end of the day, we’re supporting patients; we’re working toward the betterment of people’s lives.” If Dr. Wylie Reeder Harbin could see Harbin Clinic today, he would surely agree.
