UPHS – Bell Announces Shawnia Taisto, RN, as 2025 Mercy Award Winner

UP Health System – Bell (UPHS – Bell) recently announced that Shawnia Taisto, RN, has been recognized as the facility’s 2025 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded. Established in 2001, the Mercy Award is an annual recognition program that honors the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, Lifepoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.

“Shawnia's dedication to our patients and their families is to be commended. She is extremely personable and has a fabulous bedside manner. Shawnia assists her patients with their needs, encourages them to take all the steps necessary to get them discharged and back home, and ensures they have everything they need while away from home.” said Mitch Leckelt, CEO of UPHS - Bell. “Shawnia makes UP Health System - Bell, a place where people choose to come for healthcare.”

Shawnia's full nomination reads as follows:

Shawnia consistently demonstrates our company’s guiding principles of delivering high-quality care, taking a leadership role in our community, and assisting in creating an excellent workplace. At work, she is always willing to lend a hand to colleagues, share knowledge, and work with others to provide the best outcome for our patients. Her positive attitude and dedication to helping others are infectious, enhancing team morale and patient experience.

In her most recent role as Swing Bed Coordinator, Shawnia has worked with multiple disciplines across our healthcare system in order to streamline our Swing Bed Program to improve patient care while also increasing efficiency. Within this new role, Shawnia has made it a point to become a familiar and consistent presence for our Swing Bed patients. Her ability to build genuine, meaningful connections with each patient has helped to foster a sense of belonging and trust and has created an environment where patients feel seen, heard, and valued. Shawnia’s compassionate approach enhances each patient’s experience and plays a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Shawnia has been nominated for recognition awards numerous times by her coworkers throughout her years at Bell.  Some things they have said about her are that she always goes above and beyond, is always willing to help, picks up extra shifts, and treats patients as if they were her family members.  She has also been nominated for the DAISY award by her peers.

One of the staff people who works closely with Shawnia and the patients Shawnia works for describes her as “somebody who makes everybody feel like somebody,” and that statement, alone, speaks volumes for the person Shawnia is and the kind of person we want representing our facility and the care we offer.

Each facility winner, including Shawnia Taisto, will be considered for Lifepoint’s 2025 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., in August.