Ohio’s Hospice Celebrates First Quarter of 2025 Bouquet of Recognition Honorees
Outstanding members of Ohio’s Hospice staff are recognized each quarter with the Bouquet of Recognition Awards for Excellence. Honorees personify the qualities found in the mission and values of Ohio’s Hospice and are the foundation upon which remarkable patient experiences are built.
These honorees consistently demonstrate excellence through their expertise and extraordinary care of patients and families. They are recognized as outstanding role models in the Ohio’s Hospice community. These are the recipients for the first quarter of 2025.
Kim Randall, care coordination specialist with Ohio’s Hospice, was recognized with the Carnation Award for providing outstanding support to the nursing team while maintaining exceptional organizational skills.
Kim Tagg, RN, nominated Randall for her remarkable ability to manage complex scheduling while being a source of constant support for the nursing staff.
“Kim is a terrific organizer and gets the nurses scheduled on time,” Tagg shared in her nomination. “Kim has to handle a lot of different personalities from us nurses. She always has a kind, encouraging word.”
What impressed Tagg most was Randall’s consistent calm presence, even during challenging times. “I don’t think I have ever seen or heard Kim upset. She listens to us when we need to vent our frustrations with words of compassion and understanding. She has listened to me on more than one occasion. I always walk away feeling better.”
Congratulations to Kim Randall on being recognized with the Carnation Award and thanks to her for her support of the Ohio’s Hospice mission.
Ohio’s Hospice is proud to be a DAISY Award® partner, recognizing nurses with this special honor quarterly. The international program rewards and celebrates the extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care given by nurses every day.
When time is precious and words matter most, some nurses have the extraordinary ability to bring comfort that extends far beyond medical care. Kelsey Graves, LPN nurse with Ohio’s Hospice, was recognized with the DAISY Award for her exceptional compassionate care that transformed a family’s most difficult day into a meaningful farewell filled with hope and healing.
Graves was nominated by Saundra Juniet, who shared how Graves’ compassionate presence made all the difference during her mother’s final day.
“The Monday before my mother passed away, Kelsey was the nurse that came that day. She could have just done her regular duties, but along with that she took the extra time just to talk with me,” Juniet wrote in the nomination form. “She helped encourage me knowing that the end was near. But not only did she spend that extra time with me, she talked with mom about her heavenly journey, even though she could not respond.”
The nomination highlighted Graves’ gentle approach and dedication: “She has such a gentle spirit about her and would highly recommend her for anyone who just needs the listening ear, especially as one is nearing the end of time on earth. She knew just how to handle every situation and followed every protocol. Thank you so much for making her part of our team!”
Congratulations to Kelsey Graves on being recognized with the DAISY Award and thanks to her for her support of the Ohio’s Hospice mission.
When everyone else faced rejection, Quita Simon saw a person in need of a friend. Since October, Simon, a Personal Care Specialist with Ohio’s Hospice, has been caring for a patient who has struggled to accept help from caregivers and facility staff. But where others encountered resistance, Simon built trust. Where others met barriers, she found connection.
For her exceptional ability to provide care with dignity, compassion and empathy in the most challenging circumstances, Simon has been honored with the Sunflower Award.
“Not only has Quita provided consistent weekly care, but she has gone above and beyond to perform additional care tasks that the patient won’t allow anyone else to do,” her nominator wrote. “The patient even considers Quita a ‘friend’ – a remarkable achievement given the circumstances.”
The impact of Simon’s compassionate approach extends beyond the patient to the family as well. The patient’s Power of Attorney (POA), who is blind and unable to visit, has expressed profound gratitude for Simon’s dedication. At the family’s request, Simon has even taken time to call and speak directly with the POA, providing updates and reassurance about their loved one’s care.
“Every week when I speak with the patient’s POA, he expresses how truly grateful he is for Quita,” the nomination stated. “She is truly a blessing to our Hospice Family.”
Simon’s exceptional care exemplifies Ohio’s Hospice’s commitment to Celebrating Life’s Stories® by providing superior care and superior services to each patient and family. Her ability to build trust and provide comfort in challenging circumstances demonstrates the transformative power of compassionate, patient-centered care.
Congratulations to Quita Simon on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for supporting the Ohio’s Hospice mission.
“I’ve never seen Daron without a smile on his face.” That’s how Carli Kovach-Romero begins her nomination of Daron Butler, chaplain with Ohio’s Hospice, for the Tulip Award. And it’s that smile – along with his guitar and compassionate spirit – that has earned Butler recognition for bringing extraordinary joy to patients and their families.
Butler comes to see patients with his guitar and a heart full of compassion and love, providing what Kovach-Romero describes as “top-notch care, prayer, and a song to his patients and staff.” His infectious positivity impacts everyone he encounters, from patients and families to fellow staff members.
What makes Butler’s care particularly special is how eagerly patients anticipate his visits. “Patients look forward to his visits and singing and praying alongside him,” Kovach-Romero shared. “His patients, their families, and his coworkers all love him and his upbeat attitude.”
Butler’s superior, intuitive care extends beyond scheduled visits. “He can tell when you’re down and need to be lifted up. He stops by my office to sing songs, give me a hug, or just to say hello,” she continued. “Daron always goes above and beyond to make patients, their families, and staff feel special.”
Congratulations to Daron Butler on being recognized with the Tulip Award and thanks to him for his support of the Ohio’s Hospice mission – “Thanks Daron, for all you do!”
Kelly Stansell, social worker with Ohio’s Hospice, was recognized with the Tulip Award for her unwavering commitment to patients, families, and her fellow team members over 17 years of dedicated service.
Stansell was nominated by Jody Holstein, who highlighted her calm and steadfast approach that has made her “a reassuring presence to the team and to her patients and families.”
“Kelly has seen the Social Worker team through the pandemic and multiple staffing issues,” Holstein wrote. Despite facing a very high caseload, Kelly continued her work with dedication. “She has quietly triaged needs, has made sure her patient’s and family’s needs are being met, and has often gone the extra mile in doing so.”
Holstein praised Stansell’s team spirit, noting that “despite her own large caseload, she is quick to volunteer to help cover shifts when needed. She makes herself available to answer questions and offer insights and input to other Social Workers.”
“I feel confident in saying I speak for the entire Social Worker team in nominating Kelly for the Tulip Award,” Holstein said. “She deserves this recognition for her many years of service, for managing her current high caseload, and for being a friend and positive co-worker to all of us.”
Congratulations to Kelly Stansell on being recognized with the Tulip Award and thanks to her for her support of the Ohio’s Hospice mission.
