DCH Honors Nurse with DAISY Award

Each year, we take nominations and recognize an outstanding nurse at Decatur County Hospital with the DAISY Award.

The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day. The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after he died from complications of the auto-immune disease ITP in 1999. During his hospitalization, they deeply appreciated the care and compassion shown to Patrick and his entire family. When he died, they felt compelled to say “thank you” to nurses in a very public way. To learn more, visit DAISYFoundation.org.

This year we received nominations for seven nurses: Jennifer Barker, Peggy Frost, Brandi Oesch, Haylie Osborn, Deb Silver, Cheri Yoder, and Eugene Yoder.

During a presentation at Decatur County Hospital on Friday, May 14^th, Melanie Hamaker, Medical/Surgical and Emergency Department Manager, had the following to say about this year’s DAISY Award winner:

“I’m thankful to get the opportunity to present this year’s Daisy Award to the exceptional nurse recipient who was chosen by their peers.  Every nurse nominated is well deserving of the award, their efforts in going above and beyond in caring for their patients does not go unnoticed.

The Daisy Award is given to a nurse who is compassionate, caring and kind and this year’s winner embodies all these attributes and more.  This nurse stands out from the rest caring for patients in such a way that they won’t only remember what she did for them, but they’ll remember her name.

There is no doubt this nurse is hardworking at home and that dedication to her work can been seen every time she clocks in.  She’s intelligent, always willing to help out and jumps right in to help others without hesitation.

I’ve seen the care this nurse provides to her patients and as someone who lives in this community I take comfort in knowing that when I become a patient she will take great care of me too.

This is the kind of nurse we could all hope to be and she should be very proud of herself.  I know every nurse here would say the same and the committee could not have picked a better winner.

I’m honored not only as a Manager but as a fellow nurse to give this year’s Daisy Award to Haylie Osborn.” Melanie Hamaker Med/Surg – ED Manager

Haylie (middle) is pictured with Mark Mattes, Chief Nursing Officer; and Melanie Hamaker, Medical/Surgical and Emergency Department Manager accepting the DAISY award during Hospital Week on May 14th.

Congratulations to Haylie, and thank you for all you do!