SGMC Health Awards ER Nurses and EMS Team

SGMC Health recognizes a group of team members from its Emergency Department and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses and the EMS Outstanding Action Award, honoring their compassion, teamwork, and dedication to patient care.

Nurses Casey Brett, RN, Kaitlyn Brown, RN, Lily Kovacs, RN, and Alexis Powell, RN, were recognized with DAISY Awards, while Ernestina Garcia Cantera, AEMT, and Malori Ward, Paramedic, received the EMS Outstanding Action Award for their role in delivering exceptional care during a critical situation.

During a high-pressure emergency, this team worked seamlessly to provide not only skilled clinical care but also reassurance and stability for both the patient and family. From the outset, their calm and coordinated approach helped ease fear and create a sense of confidence during an uncertain time.

As the situation became more complex, the team continued to adapt with professionalism and empathy, maintaining a steady presence throughout the experience. "From the very beginning, they created a sense of calm in the middle of chaos," the nomination stated. "They treated my child with such gentleness and dignity, and they treated me with kindness, not judgment. It wasn't just care-it was compassion."

The nomination also highlighted the consistency of their approach, noting that their impact was not defined by a single moment but by the way they delivered thoughtful, dependable care at every step.

DAISY awards are presented monthly in front of the nurses' colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being an "Extraordinary Nurse." They also receive a beautiful sculpture called A Healer's Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. A special floral arrangement of daisies was generously donated by The Flower Gallery, the local sponsor of SGMC Health's DAISY Award.

The Outstanding Action Award recognizes the contributions of EMS professionals by honoring their hard work and dedication in the field as first responders.

SGMC Health offers a variety of recognition programs to honor employees who embody its tagline of Remarkable People, Extraordinary Care, Human Kindness. To learn more about these awards and other recognition programs, visit sgmc.org/recognition.