SGMC Health Senior Vice President of Regional Hospital Operations Johnny Ball, President and CEO Ronald Dean, Health System Hero Kimberle Strawder, and Director of Surgical Services Jessica Musgrove.

SGMC Health presents DAISY Award to team of nurses

In a special Nurses’ Week presentation, SGMC Health awarded a team of nurses from the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit with the DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing. Honorees included Tyler Hunter, Tristan (Woody) Cone, Jamiya Miles, Alayna Patera, Maddie Warriner, Chad Hodges, Jeremy Weldon, and Jason Boyette.

The team was nominated by a local physician, James Eutzler, DO, whose wife spent several weeks in the intensive care unit. He shared, “I am writing to tell you that the nursing care she received was truly the best everywhere; however, the care she received from the CICU nursing staff was, in my opinion, the most caring, empathetic, and skilled, competent care I have ever seen in my almost 50 years of practicing medicine.”

He went on to share why each of the nurses honored were beyond amazing and deserved special recognition for fighting for their patient and providing the most compassionate care to his family.

“Above and beyond the care, empathy, and compassion they all provided, one nurse stands out from any nurse I’ve ever seen or worked with, and that is Tyler Hunter,” said Dr. Eutzler. He then shared that when the patient’s family and friends could not be at the hospital, Tyler took time out of his day to sit with his wife because he didn’t want her to be alone. “He took my wife under his direct care and made sure she was not only treated well, but when the time came to let her go, his care became the most compassionate and empathetic care any human could provide another human. You cannot buy or pay for that type of care as it came from his heart! My family and I will forever be thankful that Tyler was there for our loved one.”

SGMC Health continues to ask patients and fellow employees to honor nurses they feel go above and beyond in their actions and care. Nominations are reviewed by a committee based on criteria that include compassion, teamwork, leadership, attitude, skills, and knowledge.

DAISY awards are presented monthly in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” They also receive a beautiful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. A special floral arrangement of daisies was donated by The Flower Gallery, the local sponsor of SGMC Health’s DAISY Award.

To nominate a nurse for the DAISY award, visit sgmc.org/daisy.

SGMC Health honors Strawder with Hero Award

SGMC Health honored Kimberle Strawder, RN, with the health system hero award for May.

Strawder has been with SGMC Health for 26 years and currently works in outpatient nursing. According to Jessica Musgrove, Director of Surgical Services, “Kim exhibits many traits that qualify her as a health system hero — to include warmth, kindness, careful and thorough attention to detail, and dedication to her patients, peers, and the organization.”

Strawder has a reputation of always putting the patient first and her commitment to accuracy is unmatched, the health system said in a press release. This dedication to excellence also earned Strawder the system’s Safe Care recognition ,which honors individuals who play a vital role in ensuring the health system’s unwavering commitment to safety and high reliability principles.

Strawder received a standing ovation from those in attendance.

SGMC Health participates in an array of recognition programs to honor employees who most exemplify the tagline, “Remarkable People, Extraordinary Care, Human Kindness.” To learn more, visit sgmc.org/recognition.