Compassionate care honored with DAISY and BEE Awards

Spectrum Health United Hospital caregivers recognized.

Trisha Schmidt, RN, at left.

GREENVILLE, Mich., July 29, 2022 – Tears, hugs and flowers highlighted a DAISY and BEE Award ceremony July 28 as two Spectrum Health United Hospital caregivers were recognized for their nursing excellence and compassionate care.

Trisha Schmidt, obstetrics RN, who works in the Family Birthing Center, was honored with a DAISY Award after being nominated by parents of a recent newborn at the hospital.

“Trisha is an amazing person,” the nomination read. “My wife was battling preeclampsia and was fairly incoherent. As a result, she couldn’t feed our newborn and the task fell on me – the inexperienced, stressed-out dad. Trisha sat up with me in the wee hours of the morning teaching me how to feed our baby, talking with me to calm my nerves and reassuring me that everything was going to be ok. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Trisha. You made an awful night into something we could actually handle.”

And from mom: “Thank you Trisha and the entire night team for saving my life. We were incredibly blessed to have you as our nurse. Thank you for helping my husband and baby when I was too sick to do so. A million thank yous is not enough!”

Karen Hoisington, nursing technician in the hospital’s cancer center, received the BEE Award for the care she has given during a patient’s treatment journey.

The patient, Christy Russell, attended the ceremony to congratulate Hoisington.

In her nomination, Russell said, “Karen is so caring, loving and sharing. She anticipates my needs – blankets, coffee, snacks, supplies, and she listens to my concerns and is accepting and understanding, not judging me. She is cheerful and never minds going the extra mile. She is so energetic! She has become my family away from home and is someone I trust as a friend.”

Communication specialist, John Norton, was also surprised with a DAISY Champion Award for his support of the DAISY program at United and Kelsey Hospitals.

Chief Nursing Officer Carol Dwyer nominated Norton, saying in part, “John is a true friend and partner of nurses. His dogged pursuit of raising us all up to be the best version of ourselves is admirable and appreciated.”

Schmidt, Hoisington and Norton each received flowers, commemorative pins and certificates during the ceremony.

The DAISY award program was adopted from The DAISY Award, an international program established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. The Barnes family was deeply appreciative of the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for Patrick, so they created an award to say thank you to nurses everywhere.

United and Kelsey Hospitals have expanded the recognition program to include the BEE award, open to all clinical and non-clinical employees, in addition to nurses.

Nominations are open for any Spectrum Health employee who regularly goes above and beyond in creating a meaningful experience for patients. The awards are given based on nominations from patients, community members and colleagues.

Nomination forms can be found at any Spectrum Health facility or submitted online at: https://www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/UHKHDaisyAwards

About Spectrum Health

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides care and coverage, comprising 31,000+ team members, 14 hospitals (including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital), a robust network of care facilities, teams of nationally recognized doctors and providers, and the nation’s third-largest provider-sponsored health plan, Priority Health, currently serving over 1 million members across the state of Michigan.

People are at the heart of everything we do. Locally governed and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we are focused on our mission: to improve health, inspire hope and save lives. Spectrum Health has a legacy of strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Through experience, innovation and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness.

Contact:
John Norton
Corporate Communications Manager
Office: 231.592.4387
Mobile: 231.580.1079
Email: john.norton@corewellhealth.org