Compassionate care honored with DAISY and BEE Awards

BIG RAPIDS & REED CITY, Mich., January 28, 2022 – Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City Hospital care givers were recognized with DAISY and BEE Awards for their nursing excellence and compassionate care during ceremonies January 26 and 28.

Patients who nominated the care givers were present at the ceremonies to congratulate the award recipients in person.

Ramona Lemire, RN, an obstetrics charge nurse at Big Rapids Hospital, was nominated by Elizabeth Nieder for the care she received during the birth of her daughter last fall.

“I cannot say enough great things about her,” Nieder’s nomination read. “She was so kind and supportive throughout my entire visit! What stood out to me the most was her support through my epidural. She held my shoulders and talked me through it, even wiping my tears when I was crying because contractions + big needle = big ouch! She was very kind to me and my husband because since it was our first child, I had (rightfully) no clue what was going on. My daughter decided that she didn’t want to come out easy and the decision had to be made whether to continue for vaginal birth or have her via C-section. She kept me informed on all that was going to happen and now I have a beautiful daughter who is safe and healthy.”

Prerna Sethi, physical therapist at Reed City Outpatient Rehabilitation, was nominated by Danielle Norton.

“Convinced that I should go directly to knee replacement, walking with a limp for seven years, using a cane for the last three years, I was sent to physical therapy,” Norton said in her nomination. “I was in so much pain, I did nothing, gaining weight up to 360 pounds. I had given up. Then I met Prerna and she was tough, straight forward, and encouraging. She had my back and I knew it. She changed my life forever. I am done with therapy today. I’m leaving without a cane, without any pain, and all the courage and belief in myself to “live life” again!”

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.

Big Rapids and Reed City 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/brrcdaisybee.

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