PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) has honored BMC Cancer Center nurse Billie Jo George with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, a national nursing recognition program that has been adopted by thousands of hospitals to honor individual nurses who have had an impact on patient care. 

 

George, who serves at the BMC Cancer & Infusion Center, received a nomination from Susan DeSanty, a patient she has cared for at the Center. 

 

"In my experience, most nurses are compassionate and empathetic, but Billie Jo goes beyond her traditional job," said DeSanty, who read her nomination to the Cancer Center staff gathered for the celebration. "Billie Jo cares about me not just as a patient, but also as a person. She asks about my family, and she listens intently to each of my responses. All of the nurses on her unit do their job well, working together to help their patients and one another, but Billie Jo has made me feel at home in the unit. In an environment that may otherwise be uncomfortable, she has made me and many others feel comfortable."

 

Using the acronym PETALS, BMC's criteria for nominating a nurse for a DAISY Award is:

 

P: Passion and Compassion – for nursing and the care they provided

E: Empathy – toward individual patients and their loved ones

T: Trust and Teamwork – does the nurse convey a sense of trust and security

A: Admirable Attributes

L: Love, for patient and profession

S: Selflessness

 

"There was a period during my infusions that I had to be admitted to the hospital, and this caused me to miss my regular appointments on Billie Jo's unit," said DeSanty. "Worried about me, she reached out to my daughter. Her supervisor did not ask her to call, and her job description did not require her to look into where I might be. Billie Jo called because she cares; she cares about her relationships with each of her patients, and that day I was fortunate she was checking in on me."

 

The DAISY Award is bestowed following a nomination process and review by an interdisciplinary oversight committee. BMC staff, patients, and the general community can submit nominations. The nomination form can be found on each floor, in patient welcome packets, and will soon be available on the BHS Employee Portal.

 

The DAISY Foundation was started in memory of Patrick Barnes, who passed away in 1999 from complications of the auto immune disease, ITP. His family wanted to turn their grief into something positive and create something that would capture his special spirit. The DAISY acronym stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. As they brainstormed on what the foundation would do they kept coming back to conversations about how wonderful his nurses were. Their mission became to express gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for their extraordinary skillful, compassionate care provided to patients and families.

 

The program is now in over 4,500 healthcare facilities across the US and around the world.