GAINESVILLE - Fifty years ago, Betty Toney took a job with the then-Hall County Hospital. Today, she became the first Northeast Georgia Health System employee to have served the hospital for 50 years.
Toney began as a ward secretary. Since then, she has seen the hospital grow, change and adapt to new technology.
"We went from the manual typewriter to the electric typewriter then a thing called Spectra," said Toney. Toney described Spectra as a predecessor to the computer that would send patient information to the nurses. "...and we went of course, the computer thing. I remember the date we went into it - October 1985."
Toney also grew from her secretary position into the admissions department (now known as Patient Access), where she worked for 44 years until she became an outpatient registrar in 2010.
When a new hospital opened up in Buford, Toney was encouraged to apply as an x-ray technician. However, Toney said she has never wanted to work anywhere else.
"I thought about it, I got the papers and then I said, 'No, I've been with the medical center this long, I'll stay with it!'"
Toney said she doesn't have any plans to retire just yet, but says it's not entirely off the table.
"I love what I do and as long as I'm able to... and as long as my boss likes my work, I'm staying!"
Tuesday
April 23rd, 2024
8:09AM
