Outstanding members of the Ohio’s Hospice staff are recognized every quarter with Bouquet of Recognition Awards. Bouquet of Recognition Award 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 are recognized as outstanding role models in the Ohio’s Hospice community. These are the recipients for the third quarter of 2019.

Carnation Award – April Goins

Ohio’s Hospice recognized April Goins, administrative assistant for Pathways of Hope at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, with the Carnation Award. This award is given to a mission support staff member of Ohio’s Hospice each quarter. She was recognized for outstanding support she provides to the clients of Pathways of Hope.

Pathways of Hope provides a variety of grief services to the community. Support and education are provided by a team of counselors and social workers with significant experience and expertise in supporting grieving children, adolescents and adults. 

April was nominated for her commitment to grieving families served by Pathways of Hope. She witnesses the depth of the pain of the bereaved at every phone call and every office greeting. April also manages and supports departmental projects from Adopt-a-Family to memorial services to Camp Pathways, a grief camp for kids, ages 7-17, who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or significant loved one. During the 2019 season of Camp Pathways, April was instrumental in helping to coordinate and plan the event. 

“I cannot thank her enough for her patience and grace as we attended to every countless detail,” said Lisa Conn, MSW, LISW-S, bereavement counseling professional, who nominated April. “April showed up daily with a team spirit and pride in providing the best possible camp experience for grieving children and their caregivers.” 

Congratulations to April on her Carnation Award and thanks to her for her dedication to the mission of Ohio’s Hospice.

DAISY Award – Dana Sanders

Dana Sanders, LPN crisis care at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, was recognized with the DAISY Award® for providing outstanding compassionate care to a patient. 

The international program rewards and celebrates the extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care given by nurses every day. Ohio’s Hospice is proud to be a DAISY Award partner, recognizing one of its nurses with this special honor, quarterly.

At Ohio’s Hospice, DAISY Award honorees are nurses who consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care. They are recognized as outstanding role models in the Ohio’s Hospice nursing community.

Dana’s patient was scared and nervous about going to the Hospice House at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton. The patient’s home was 35 minutes away. To comfort her patient, Dana offered to follow the patient. Even though Dana’s shift had ended, she followed the patient in her car to the Hospice House of Dayton. She wanted to make sure that her patient was comfortable and settled in at the Hospice House.

Congratulations to Dana and thanks to her for her support of the Ohio’s Hospice mission.

Sunflower Award – Angel Shepherd

Angel Shepherd, personal care specialist at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, was recognized with the Sunflower Award, which is given to personal care specialists quarterly. She was nominated by a patient’s daughter, who praised Angel for the care she provided the daughter’s mother. Angel took care of the patient for several months, while the patient was in a long-term care facility. 

Angel was attentive to the needs of the patient, encouraging her to take in nourishment when she refused to eat. Angel encouraged the patient about the importance of taking her pain medication when the facility nurse was unsuccessful. The patient’s daughter was grateful to Angel for getting her mother to smile when no one else could. In addition, Angle was the eyes and ears for her mother’s hospice nurse.

“Angel was always quick to contact the hospice nurse to report when things were not going well,” the patient’s daughter wrote in her nomination form. “I could tell Mom had a real fondness for Angel as she knew Angel would care for her with kindness and respect.” 

She praised Angel for her commitment to her mother’s care. Even on days when Angel was in the facility but not scheduled to provide care for her mother, Angel stopped by to check on her. “Angel is an angel,” the daughter wrote. “She lives up to her namesake in every way.” 

Congratulations to Angel and thanks to her for her support of the mission of Ohio’s Hospice. 

Tulip Award – Patrice Washington

Patrice Washington, a medical social worker at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, was recognized with the Tulip Award, which recognizes care team members, including chaplains, social workers, therapists, counselors, physicians, pharmacists and other patient care professionals, quarterly.

She was nominated by a patient’s niece, who praised her for the care she provided the family before her uncle passed. The niece described how Patrice took care of their family with her remarkable ability to know what people need, even when they do not ask.

“She focuses on connecting with others in a way that both eases their pain and accentuates the memory of their loved one and their legacy,” the niece wrote in the nomination form. “She is someone whose energy naturally meets the mission of hospice and should be revered for her service.” 

The family appreciated Patrice’s knowledge, expertise and compassion. “Thank you so much,” the niece wrote. “I hope you know how much your time here means.” 

Congratulations to Patrice and thanks to her for her support of the mission of Ohio’s Hospice.

To nominate a superior staff member, click here.