The DAISY Foundation is a non-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes and stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System (DAISY).

Nurses at UP Health System – Portage are being honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.

The DAISY Award recipient for this quarter is Jamie Olson, RN, a nurse who works in the Emergency Department. Jamie has worked with UP Health System – Portage for three years.

“I had to come to the Emergency Room due to an open fracture. Jamie did everything she could to keep my pain under as much control as possible. She showed my family and I that there are still nurses out there that still LOVE their jobs,” stated a Houghton County resident.

The DAISY Foundation is a non-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick 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.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at UP Health System – Portage to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the Honoree’s colleagues. Each Honoree receives a certificate commending her or him as an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

To nominate an extraordinary nurse with a DAISY nomination, visit UPHealthSystem.com/Daisy-Award to submit a nomination form. For more information on the DAISY award, please visit the DAISY Foundation website at http://DAISYfoundation.org