SGMC Health awards teamwork
Published 8:07 am Friday, February 28, 2025
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Submitted photo: Jack Paulson, Assistant Chief of Specialty Care Transport, receives the Outstanding Action Award for EMS professionals.
Submitted photo: Kristi Ashworth, RN on 4T, and Erin Holt, RN in Palliative Care, receive the February DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing.
VALDOSTA — SGMC Health recognizes the actions of nurses Kristi Ashworth and Erin Holt, who have been honored with the prestigious DAISY Award, and Jack Paulson, Assistant Chief of Specialty Care Transport, who has received the EMS Outstanding Action Award for their compassion and dedication to patient care.
Recently, these team members went above and beyond to ensure that a critically ill patient was able to share a final moment with his wife, who was also admitted in a different facility. The wife’s medical condition prevented her from traveling by personal vehicle, and initial efforts to secure transport had been unsuccessful. Despite these challenges, Ashworth and Holt remained committed to finding a way to reunite the couple in what could have been their last opportunity to be together.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the nurses reached out to Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Cherise Giddens, who in turn contacted Paulson. Without hesitation, he responded that not only would he make it happen, but he’d be there himself to pick her up in approximately 15 minutes.
Thanks to this team’s swift action and unwavering commitment, the wife was brought to SGMC Health Main that evening to be with her husband.
“This act of compassion was not guided by protocol or policy,” shared the award nomination. “It was a demonstration of true dedication to patient-centered care. Their willingness to advocate for their patients and act with empathy in a moment of need exemplifies the very best of healthcare.”
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 generously donated by The Flower Gallery, the local sponsor of SGMC Health’s DAISY Award.
The Outstanding Action Award recognizes the contributions of EMS professionals by honoring their hard work and dedication.
SGMC Health offers a variety of recognition programs to honor employees who embody its core values of “Remarkable People, Extraordinary Care, Human Kindness.” To learn more about these awards and other recognition programs, visit sgmc.org/recognition.
