Holly Avery, RN, an SSM Health at Home nurse in Mt. Vernon, IL, was recently honored with the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award for her extraordinary patient-focused approach to nursing throughout her career. Holly has been dedicated to the compassionate care of others and served as a role model for her colleagues.
A colleague shared, “Holly is the epitome of an advocate for all her patients. She can take the most complex patients and make sure they are advocated for from day one. She advocated for a pediatric patient last year who needed to go back to St. Louis. This child was very fragile. Holly called 911 and coordinated with them to be able to land a helicopter in this family’s backyard/field by their house so this child could be flown out. I do not know of any other nurses who have ever done this in my career. She saved that little girl’s life, and I want to be sure someone other than our local staff remembers this. This is just a very short summary and glimpse of what this nurse is capable of. She is a huge part of the core and success of our branch.”
The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes nurses who have devoted their lives and careers to the compassionate care of others. Nurses are nominated by their colleagues for their lifelong dedication to compassion in nursing through active mentoring, role modeling, advocating for their patients, and promoting the positive image of nursing.
To be considered for the award, the nominees must have 25+ years of service, a distinguished career in nursing, a special concern for those who are underserved and marginalized, and be instrumental in implementing the mission of SSM Health with their team
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33; the care Patrick received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. DAISY stands for diseases attacking the immune system.
About SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon, operating in partnership with the Felician Sisters, is a 134-bed hospital and has the most advanced robotic surgical system for minimally invasive surgery, a comprehensive neurosciences program, and a pediatric emergency and NICU telemedicine program operated in conjunction with the physicians at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.
In 2016, SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital was named a “Best Hospital” by US News and World Report for the treatment of congestive heart failure. In recent years, Healthgrades has presented SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital with the Patient Safety Excellence Award, Outstanding Patient Experience Award, and the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence.
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