SVMC Medical/Surgical Units Honored with DAISY Team Award

BENNINGTON, VT—April 14, 2022—The Medical/Surgical team at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), was the recipient of the DAISY Team Award for Extraordinary Nurses in March. The department was nominated by several patients who recognized the group’s extraordinary efforts to care for them.

“I am so proud of this highly skilled and deeply compassionate team,” said Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, SVHC’s chief nursing officer and vice president for Patient Care Services. “They bring their absolute best to every patient every day, and that extra attention really shines through in the care they provide.”

Duchene presented the award during a surprise presentation on the 2 East and 2 West units on Friday, March 25. According to DAISY Foundation tradition, team members received a pin, a banner to hang on their unit, a certificate, and freshly baked cinnamon buns.

Nominations from three different patient families highlighted the nurses’ kindness, skill, sense of humor, gentleness, teamwork, and family-like treatment for patients.

One nominator who was, herself, a nurse, wrote, “I often critique patient care based on my experience, education, and beliefs. [These nurses] all gave excellent care and exceeded my expectations! Each picked up where the other left off in a seamless manner. I was more than pleased with the gentle empathetic care I witnessed. You should be proud...”

The Medical/Surgical team is made up of nearly 50 full- and part-time Magnet® nurses. They care for patients who are recovering from surgeries, illnesses, and injuries.

“I am grateful to the DAISY Foundation for giving nurses the opportunity to be recognized by their patients. It’s a nice way to honor what nurses do every day,” said Laur Grande, RN, MSN.  “I feel very privileged to be a part of this team and to work beside them to provide patient care and the best experience that we can.”  

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.

High-Resolution Images:
https://svhealthcare.org/Portals/0/Images/EASTWing.JPG?ver=2022-04-14-074539-353 Left to right: Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, chief nursing officer and vice president for Patient Care Services; Laur Grande, RN, MSN, director of Med/Surg Nursing; Chrissy LaBaff, BSN-RN, CMSRN; Doreen Garvie, AS-RN; Tina Lewis, AS-RN, CMSRN; Thomas A. Dee, FACHE, president and CEO; and Carolyn Stannard-Carlo, DNP.

https://svhealthcare.org/Portals/0/Images/WESTWing.JPG?ver=2022-04-14-074859-287 Left to right: Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, chief nursing officer and vice president for Patient Care Services; Chrissy LaBaff, BSN-RN, CMSRN; Laur Grande, RN, MSN, director of Med/Surg Nursing; Kari Thomas, LNA; Candy Wilkinson, AS-RN; Sara Dommke, LNA; Thomas A. Dee, FACHE, president and CEO; Deb Cirullo, AS-RN; Misty Arnold, AS-RN, CMSRN; and Kelly Dobbert, BSN-RN.

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care 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 ranked fourth nationwide for the value of care it provides by the Lown Institute Hospital Index in 2020 and is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. It has also received the highest marks possible from the Leapfrog Group. 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.