OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center recently recognized two caregivers with the DAISY and Sunflower Award. The DAISY and Sunflower Awards are awarded quarterly to staff members who have provided exceptional care.
Don Zimmerman, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award, a national award program recognizing nurses. Zimmerman was nominated by a patient for his outstanding compassion. The DAISY Award program can be found in over 2,000 healthcare facilities in all 50 states and 14 other countries. An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, The DAISY Foundation was formed in November, 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). During Pat’s 8 week hospitalization, his family experienced the best in nursing care and compassion provided not only to Pat but to everyone in his family. So one of the goals they set in creating a foundation in Pat’s memory was to recognize extraordinary nurses and to thank them for the gifts nurses give their patients and families every say, just as they had experienced.
The Sunflower Award, a recognition program offered to non-nursing staff with OSF HealthCare, was given to Sydney Donaldson, OB Technician, for delivering great service to a patient’s room.
OSF HealthCare encourages patients, family members and fellow staff to recognize caregivers who have provided exceptional service by nominating them for an award to honor their dedication.