20 healthcare heroes to be honored nationwide for representing excellence in patient experience
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., August 11, 2025 – ImageFIRST®, the leading healthcare linen services provider, announces the launch of its 5th Annual HeroesFIRST Contest, national campaign recognizing Healthcare Heroes who go above and beyond to enhance the patient experience. HeroesFIRST celebrates individuals who align closely with ImageFIRST’s Values – Be Safe, Be Honest, Be Respectful and most of all, Be Remarkable.
Nominations are currently underway by ImageFIRST Service Team members and Customer Advocates in their 80+ markets across the country. From the field of nominees, 20 exceptional finalists will be selected and featured in a national online vote. The top eight heroes with the most votes, four each from the East and West regions, will be awarded a share of $16,500 in monetary prizes for representing the best in patient experience.
“HeroesFIRST is our opportunity to celebrate healthcare heroes whose dedication and integrity set a powerful example across the healthcare industry,” says ImageFIRST CEO Edward H. Orzetti. “We are united by our shared focus – enhancing the patient experience – and are privileged to witness the extraordinary passion delivered by our healthcare partners each day. ImageFIRST is proud to support those who devote their lives to caring for others, and we look forward to the impact of this year’s campaign.”
During the nomination process, ImageFIRST associates aim to create positive moments for each caregiver – celebrating their dedication to patient care with a certificate, balloons and care packages. 2024’s HeroesFIRST campaign recognized 486 nominees. Following a nationwide vote, last year’s HeroesFIRST contest awarded the top eight winners, with Paula Cote of Wolfeboro, NH being the first-place winner. “It is an honor to receive HeroesFIRST recognition from an organization as remarkable as ImageFIRST,” said Cote. “This achievement would not have been possible without the support of Huggins Hospital’s administration and my amazing colleagues. Thank you all so much!”
Nationwide voting opens Wednesday, September 17th, and remains open until 11:59 pm ET on Friday, October 3rd. Winners will be announced on Monday, October 13th.
To learn more or cast a vote from September 17th – October 3rd, visit heroes.imagefirst.com.
(Pictured: 2024 HeroesFIRST Winner Paula Cote, Huggins Hospital, Wolfeboro, NH)
# # #
ABOUT IMAGEFIRST
Founded in 1967, ImageFIRST® is the largest and fastest-growing national provider of linen rental, laundry and facility services, focusing primarily on the healthcare sector. Acquired by private equity firm Calera Capital in 2018, ImageFIRST serves medical facilities nationwide and hospitality customers in select markets. They offer an array of items such as linens, patient/guest garments, essential staff uniforms and supplies, facility service programs, and more while managing their clients’ linen inventory for cost management. With a customer retention rate of over 97%, ImageFIRST is dedicated to improving staff and patient/guest satisfaction through quality linen and remarkable service. As leaders in infection prevention, they currently own and operate the most HLAC-accredited (81 and counting) and TRSA Food Service certified (8) facilities in the industry. For more information, visit imagefirst.com.
Media Inquiries:
Angel Taylor, ImageFIRST
ataylor@imagefirst.com
267-806-0058
Kristin Golden, ImageFIRST
kgolden@imagefirst.com
267-658-0592