Samaritan Celebrates December 2020 DAISY and BEE Award Recipients

Published on: January 12, 2021

Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for December 2020. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff at the hospital, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who support patient care.

Shirley Ward, a Registered Nurse in Samaritan’s Interventional Radiology Department, received the DAISY Award and Tony Marra, Director of Laboratory Services, was honored with the BEE Award. Both honorees were nominated by fellow staff members and selected by a committee.

Ward was nominated for her compassion, sincerity and overall dedication to patient safety. Several examples were detailed in her nomination form, including one instance in which she helped calm a patient who had misunderstood their appointment time.

“Shirley was able to approach the patient in such a caring and sincere manner that set a gentle tone for the conversation,” the nomination reads. “She actively and attentively listened to the patient’s concerns and provided reassurance and alternatives. Shirley’s leadership and communication skills are compassionate, sincere, and professional. She always ensures a patient-centered approach is attained and delivered.”

For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Ward was presented a certificate commending her as an extraordinary nurse, a DAISY Award pin, and a symbolic sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of this sculpture is on display in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.

Marra was nominated for the BEE Award by a colleague in the laboratory for his steadfast leadership and dedication to patients and staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic:

“In addition to managing his department through the COVID crisis, Tony has personally picked up and delivered COVID specimens to the lab. On weekends, he drives to the Summit collection site, picks up the specimens and delivers them to the lab to ensure a timely turnaround for patients. He has been and continues to be someone who thinks of the patients and us, his coworkers, before himself. His selflessness is so appreciated by all of us.”

Marra was presented a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.

Both awards will continue to be presented throughout the year, and nominations can be submitted by patients, families, or colleagues at any time. To make a nomination, or to learn more about the DAISY and BEE Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.

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