Outstanding members of the Ohio’s Hospice staff are recognized each quarter with Bouquet of Recognition Awards for Excellence. Honorees personify the qualities found in the mission and vision of Ohio’s Hospice and are the foundation upon which a remarkable patient experience is built. These staff members consistently demonstrate excellence through their expertise and extraordinary compassionate support for patients and families. They were recognized as outstanding role models in the Ohio’s Hospice community during the fourth quarter of 2020. 

Carnation Award 

The Carnation Award recognizes administrative assistants and staff in finance, quality assurance, information technology, human resources, public information, foundation, hospitality, culinary, facilities, purchasing, volunteers and all other mission support departments.  

Ohio’s Hospice recognized Lucas Fullen and Cynthia Pellegrino with the Carnation Award.  

Lucas Fullen is a culinary specialist with Ohio’s Hospice of Butler & Warren Counties. He was nominated by Kathleen Cooley, shift leader Hospice House/IPU at the Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton Hospice House. She shared a compliment she received about Lucas. 

“A patient’s private caregiver stated that he has placed several orders for his patient, and Lucas is always so friendly when he answers the phone,” she wrote in the nomination form. “The meals are always delivered quickly.”  

Congratulations to Lucas on being recognized with the Carnation Award and thanks to him for his dedication to the mission of Ohio’s Hospice.  

Cynthia Pellegrino is a clinical coordinator with Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. She was nominated by Heather Douglas, team leader extended hours with Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. “She has been a pivotal member in the scheduling process for us,” she wrote in the nomination form. “We have numerous staff in the triage, crisis care and extended hours department with varying schedules. The staggered schedules and partial shift schedules can be cumbersome and require a lot of daily attention.” 

Heather praised Cynthia for being exceptionally organized and staying on top of numerous emails from staff and leadership. “She is amazing at what she does. She works so hard to help keep everyone happy and ensure as much flexibility as we can with large numbers of staff,” Heather said. “We could not function to the level that we do without her daily attentiveness. We appreciate her so much.” 

Congratulations to Cynthia on being recognized with the Carnation Award and thanks to her for her dedication to the mission of Ohio’s Hospice.  

DAISY Award®  

Ohio’s Hospice is proud to be a DAISY Award® partner, recognizing its nurses with this special honor. At Ohio’s Hospice, DAISY Award honorees are nurses who consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care.  

Ohio’s Hospice recognized Erica Kain and Kayla Kolakowski with the DAISY Award®. 

Erica Kain is an LPN palliative supportive care at Pure Healthcare. She was nominated by her supervisor, Mark Curtis, APRN palliative care at Pure Healthcare. “Erica is command central for Pure Healthcare. Nearly every patient contact goes through her,” Curtis wrote in the nomination form. “She rooms our symptom management patients, and her approach helps them feel comfortable despite their chronic or life-limiting illnesses.”  

She provides phone triage when patients call in distress, and she manages the refill line. She has managed multiple roles to enhance the success of the mission of Pure Healthcare. Most recently, Erica volunteered to go into the community and provide home-based supportive care to palliative patients. “Erica demonstrates compassion, expert knowledge and professionalism,” Curtis said.  

Congratulations to Erica on being recognized with the DAISY Award and thanks to her for her support of the mission of Ohio’s Hospice.  

Kayla Kolakowski is an RN Hospice House/IPU at the Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton Hospice House. She was nominated by a patient. “Every time I saw her, she greeted me with a smile. She was always cheerful,” the patient wrote in the nomination form. “Kayla checked in on me frequently, and she was quick to meet any need I had.” 

The patient appreciated Kayla’s kindness, compassion and helpfulness.  “She did everything with energetic cheerfulness,” the patient said. “I never felt like she didn’t have time for me. She was my favorite staff member of my stay.” 

Congratulations to Kayla on being recognized with the DAISY Award and thanks to her for her support of the mission of Ohio’s Hospice.  

Sunflower Award 

The Sunflower Award honors personal care specialists, who take care of a patient’s personal needs with dignity, compassion and empathy. They provide quality nursing assistance to patients, assist patients’ families with care, and work with the interdisciplinary care team.  

Ohio’s Hospice recognized Vashawna Cooper and Nicole Gold with the Sunflower Award.  

Vashawna Cooper, a personal care specialist with Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice, was nominated by a family member of a patient. “She is an awesome personal caregiver. She is one of the nicest, most caring individuals that I’ve ever met,” the family member wrote in the nomination form. “I am also a caregiver and know what it takes to provide comfort to those in need.”  

The family member described Vashawna as very reliable, dependable and caring. “I just feel like she should be recognized for what she does and who she is,” the family member said. “She has so much compassion and she reminds me of myself. Thank you for sending her to my family.” 

Congratulations to Vashawna on being recognized with the Sunflower Award and thanks to her for her support of the mission of Ohio’s Hospice.  

Nicole Gold, a personal care specialist with Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County, was nominated by a staff member at a long-term care nursing facility. The staff member complimented Nicole on her care of the residents.  

“She truly is what I think of when I think of hospice,” the staff member wrote in the nomination form. “She always goes above and beyond for our residents. We are blessed to have her caring for our residents.”  

Congratulations to Nicole on being recognized with the Sunflower Award and thanks to her for her support of the mission of Ohio’s Hospice.  

Tulip Award 

The Tulip Award recognizes chaplains, social workers, therapists, counselors, physicians, pharmacists and other patient care professionals at Ohio’s Hospice.  

Ohio’s Hospice recognized Jane Brewer and Patricia Woodgeard with the Tulip Award.  

Jane Brewer is a chaplain with Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice. She was nominated by a family member of a patient. The family member nominated Jane to express how much their family appreciated Jane’s help with their grandparents’ services. She first met Jane when her grandfather died a few years ago. “Ever since I was first introduced to Jane, you could tell she was a gentle, caring person. Immediately her words and demeanor could put you at ease,” the family member wrote in the nomination form. “The compassion she carries with her is genuine, and she excels at consoling family members and helping them through times of grief.”  

Recently, the family member’s grandmother died. Again, Jane was the chaplain who provided the services. “I had not seen her since my grandfather’s funeral, but she remembered who I was and spoke to me like we had just seen each other earlier in the week,” the family member said. “You have a truly remarkable person in her on your staff and, although I’m sure you’re aware, she deserves the absolute highest praise anyone can give a person.” 

Congratulations to Jane on being recognized with the Tulip Award and thanks to her for her support of the mission of Ohio’s Hospice. 

Patricia Woodgeard is a medical social worker at the Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton Hospice House. She was nominated by a family member of a patient. Patricia helped the family of the patient when their mother was a patient at the Hospice House. The family had several siblings, and the family member praised Patricia for patience and expertise.  

“She helped explain all of the advanced planning forms and the pros and cons,” the family member wrote in the nomination form. “She was very compassionate, respectful and reassuring. She was very comforting during that emotional week.”  

Congratulations to Patricia on being recognized with the Tulip Award and thanks to her for her support of the mission of Ohio’s Hospice.  

To nominate a staff member, click here.