Calhoun Liberty Hospital recently presented its first DAISY, BEE and Sunshine Awards, giving patients, families and colleagues new ways to recognize employees who make a difference in their care and experience at the hospital.
The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses is an international recognition program honoring nurses for extraordinary, compassionate care. The BEE Award is a Calhoun Liberty Hospital recognition for non-nursing clinical staff, while the Sunshine Award recognizes support staff whose work and service make a difference for patients, families and coworkers.
At CLH’s first recognition ceremony, Gloria Mendez, RN, received The DAISY Award; Carol Bush received the BEE Award; and Sandy Zeissler received the Sunshine Award. The celebration was led by Leah Bass, Risk Manager, Quality Improvement, and Emily Warner, Director of Case Management, and attended by colleagues, hospital leadership and family members of the honorees. All employees who received nominations were also recognized.
The DAISY Award: Gloria Mendez, RN
The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 following an eight-week hospitalization for complications of an autoimmune disease. His family was deeply affected by the skill and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick and created The DAISY Award as a way to recognize extraordinary nursing care.
Mendez, a registered nurse on CLH’s Inpatient and Short-term Rehab Unit, was nominated by a patient recovering from a below-the-knee amputation. He recalled the encouragement she provided during a physically and emotionally difficult recovery.
“Her encouragement gave me confidence at a time when I did not have much confidence in myself,” he wrote. “When I think about what a nurse should be, I think about the way Gloria cared for me.”
Mendez received The Healer’s Touch sculpture presented to DAISY honorees, and guests shared cinnamon rolls, a DAISY tradition connected to Patrick’s story.
BEE Award: Carol Bush
Carol Bush, a ward clerk and Licensed Medical Assistant also on the Inpatient and Short-term Rehab Unit, received CLH’s first BEE Award, recognizing non-nursing clinical staff for compassion, teamwork and service.
“Carol doesn’t simply serve in one role. She serves wherever she is needed, and she makes our entire team better because of it,” her nomination stated.
Sunshine Award: Sandy Zeissler
Sandy Zeissler, a nine-year member of the hospital’s Environmental Services team, received CLH’s first Sunshine Award, recognizing support staff whose work and kindness make a difference throughout the hospital.
“Sandy consistently goes above and beyond to help others,” her nomination stated. “Whether she is assisting a coworker, making sure an area is clean and ready, or simply noticing something that needs to be done and taking care of it, Sandy can always be counted on.”
“Excellent care takes an entire team, and every role at Calhoun Liberty Hospital contributes to the experience our patients and families have here,” CEO Emily Brown said. “Gloria, Carol and Sandy represent three very different roles, but their nominations share something important: someone noticed the difference they made. We are proud to recognize them and all of our employees who bring that same level of care and service to CLH each day.”
Patients, family members, employees and community members can recognize a Calhoun Liberty Hospital employee who made a difference in their experience. Nomination forms for The DAISY Award, BEE Award and Sunshine Award are available at CalhounLibertyHospital.com under Recognize Extraordinary Care.