SVHC Announces DAISY Award Winner

BENNINGTON, VT—June 13, 2023—Russell Goodrich, RN, a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), was the April recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC).

According to Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, SVHC’s chief nursing officer and vice president for Patient Care Services, “Russ is a talented and compassionate care provider. His commitment to providing exceptional care to patients and families during challenging times is inspiring. We are fortunate to have him on our team. He is a more than deserving recipient of the DAISY award.”

Nominated by a patient’s daughter, Goodrich was recognized for the grace and professionalism he showed the patient and family.  The nomination read:

“When my dad was in the ICU, (Russ) showed an unbelievable amount of support to him and my entire family. He was so professional and caring … (He) took the time to make sure that not only my dad was comfortable during his passing, but my family was also. He even went as far as to provide blankets, comfortable chairs, etc. for my sisters and I for overnight watch. He is by far one of the best nurses that I have had the pleasure of knowing! I can't thank him enough for being there for our family in our time of need.”

“To receive a national honor for the work I do is very humbling,” says Goodrich. “Providing excellent and compassionate care is what nursing is all about. However, nurses do not often hear from families or get messages of appreciation, which makes the kind words shared and recognition all the more meaningful. ”

Goodrich received a bachelor’s degree at Southern New Hampshire University and an associate degree from Vermont Technical College where he is currently in the graduate program. He started at SVMC as an LPN at the Center for Living & Rehabilitation in 2012. Since then, he has worked in the Med-Surg unit and for the past six and a half years as an RN in the ICU.

The DAISY Award is part of a national merit-based recognition program established by the DAISY Foundation. It celebrates nurses’ education, training, and skill. Nominations can be submitted by patients, families, physicians, and colleagues. All nominations are blinded, so that they are anonymous before being reviewed by a selection committee. One nurse is then chosen as the DAISY Award winner. DAISY Awards are presented on a regular basis, usually bi-monthly or quarterly.

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About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, healthcare system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. In addition, SVMC is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. The health system is fortunate to have the support of platinum-level corporate sponsor Mack, a leading supplier of contract manufacturing services and injection molded plastic parts based in Arlington, VT.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.