Nurse Who Saved Human Trafficking Victim Honored With President's Award
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Piedmont Macon nurse Tiara McCoy was honored with the President’s Award after her quick thinking and compassion helped save a woman from kidnapping and human trafficking.
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McCoy trusted her gut when something felt off during triage — creating a safe space for the patient to open up and get help.
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Her actions not only saved a life but also earned recognition from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp for her bravery and advocacy.
When something doesn’t feel right, nurses just know.
That intuition — the one you can’t teach in nursing school — is exactly what helped Tiara McCoy, RN, save a woman from a horrifying case of kidnapping and human trafficking.
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McCoy, who works at Piedmont Macon Medical Center, was recently honored with Piedmont Healthcare’s President’s Award, including a $5,000 award, one of the system’s highest recognitions. Out of thousands of nominations across all Piedmont hospitals, McCoy, was hand-selected by Piedmont’s President and CEO Kevin Brown for her quick compassion, quick thinking, and unwavering commitment to patient care.
“We have so many selfless employees who show tremendous regard for others, whether they are in a patient setting or not,” Brown said. “Tiara and Emilee stand out as shining examples of what it means to create a truly patient-centered culture.”
Something Felt Off — and Her Nurse Instincts Kicked In
It started as a routine triage, until McCoy noticed subtle red flags. When a female patient asked if the man with her needed to come back to the exam room, something about the interaction didn’t sit right.
Trusting her gut, McCoy calmly led the woman into a private assessment room, closing the door and creating a safe space away from the man.
Then she did what nurses do best…she listened.
McCoy gently asked questions about safety and wellbeing. That’s when the patient opened up, sharing that she was being physically and sexually abused and that she hadn’t been able to contact her family.
Without hesitation, McCoy handed over her own cellphone so the woman could call her loved ones. She quietly notified her supervisor and triggered a careful, behind-the-scenes response to protect the patient, all without alerting the suspected abuser.
Her Actions Saved a Life
Thanks to McCoy’s compassion and quick action, a caseworker stepped in to provide immediate help. The patient was able to safely leave her abuser, access support services, and eventually reunite with her family in a U.S. territory.
McCoy’s vigilance didn’t just save a life — it restored one.
Her heroic act reached beyond the hospital walls, earning formal recognition from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, who have been strong advocates in the fight against human trafficking.
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