A Registered Nurse and a Patient Care Technician were two recent recipients of the DAISY and Sunflower Awards offered by OSF HealthCare. Both caregivers were honored during a brief ceremony held on February 7, 2019.
Erin Chaon, RN, BSN, of Mendota was given the DAISY Award which recognizes exceptional nurses nationwide on behalf of the DAISY Foundation. Chaon has been employed at OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center for 3 years and works within the Medical/Surgical Inpatient Department.
Chaon was instrumental in assisting a patient to be discharged in time to attend the funeral of her son, who passed away just days before she was admitted to the hospital. The patient’s granddaughter stated, “…Erin and my grandmother had gotten along so well that morning, that my grandmother was calm, ready and you could tell had not been rushed or pushed to be ready to go. We could not have done this without Erin…My grandmother was able to say goodbye to her son in person and attend the funeral, which meant the world to us.”
The Sunflower Award, a recognition program offered to non-nursing Mission Partners with OSF HealthCare, was given to Josie Rodriguez of Streator. Rodriguez has been employed with the hospital for 13 years and currently works within the hospital’s Medical/Surgical Inpatient Department as a Patient Care Technician.
A patient’s mother stated, "I met Josie on our first night stay here at OSF. When she entered my son’s room she introduced herself and then took a moment to familiarize herself with my son, that is 28 years old with autism and congestive heart failure. Josie not only took care of him, but she took care of me, making sure that I had eaten and had pillows and a blanket. Josie was my ‘calm in the storm’."
OSF HealthCare encourages patients, family members and fellow Mission Partners to recognize caregivers who have provided exceptional care and service by nominating them for an award to honor their dedication. For more information about the DAISY and Sunflower Awards, or to submit a nomination, visit: https://www.osfhealthcare.org/saint-elizabeth/amenities/thank-caregiver/.