Phoebe Sumter recognizes DAISY and PRIDE Award recipients

Published 1:55 pm Saturday, July 6, 2019

AMERICUS — Phoebe Sumter Medical Center recently honored its latest DAISY and PRIDE award recipients. The goal of these awards is to recognize excellence in the workplace by both nurses and non-nursing employees.

Jantwan Twiggs, a surgical associate in the operating room, was nominated for the PRIDE award by a fellow colleague for always offering assistance and the positivity he brings to work each day. Recently, Twiggs was working in the emergency department when a trauma was admitted. He immediately jumped in and helped comfort the family. According to the nomination letter, “JT jumped right in and helped the family and kept them updated. He also put on scrubs and was an amazing help to his operating room family. JT didn’t hesitate to help and his help was welcomed as well as needed. JT is an amazing team player and an amazing person.”

The DAISY award was presented to Ginny Weisner, RN. Weisner, who works in Acute Care, was nominated by several patients for her kindness and excellent patient care. One patient stated, “Ginny is one of the most efficient, most concerned nurses we’ve ever had. She has a wonderful personality and is very knowledgeable!”

Phoebe PRIDE stands for Person Responding In Dedicated Excellence and recognizes excellence in the workplace by non-nursing employees. The award is presented periodically throughout the year and each winner is recognized at a special ceremony. Patients, family, visitors, employees, and volunteers are encouraged to nominate a Phoebe employee when they see a person responding in dedicated excellence.

From left to right, Felicia Finch, Acute Care nurse manager; Susan Bruns, CNO; Ginny Weisner, RN; and Midge Schuster, director of Surgical Services, Mother-Baby, Oncology.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barrnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999m from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Barne and his family 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.

At a presentation given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors, the honoree will receive a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The honoree will also be given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.