Centralia, Illinois – Ashley Calvert, RN, at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Centralia, was recently honored with the DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing.
Patient families shared examples of Ashley's unwavering dedication to nursing, highlighting the compassion, support, and exceptional care she provided throughout difficult and uncertain moments.
“Ashley was a light for our family,” said a patient family member. “From the very beginning, she stepped in with a calm, steady presence that immediately made us feel like our loved one was in the best hands. She didn’t just care for him medically; she cared for all of us. She took the time to explain everything, reassured us when we felt overwhelmed, and never once made us feel alone in such a scary situation. In a moment where everything felt out of control, Ashley brought comfort, strength, and compassion in a way we will never forget.”
Ashley was also honored in a separate instance in the Emergency Room at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Centralia, with a patient family member insisting that Ashley’s “ability to stay calm, think quickly, and take control of the situation showed not only her skill as a nurse but also her deep compassion for her patients. She treated my loved one with kindness, urgency, and genuine concern, and during one of the most frightening moments for our family, she made us feel like he truly mattered. Her dedication and willingness to go above and beyond her duties is something we will never forget. Ashley represents everything that nursing should be: compassionate, attentive, skilled, and selfless."
In these situations, and many others, Ashley’s steady presence, clinical expertise, and heartfelt compassion provided a source of comfort and confidence, helping patients and their families navigate some of their most difficult moments with greater peace and reassurance.
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33; the care Patrick received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. DAISY stands for diseases attacking the immune system.
Learn more about the DAISY Award at www.daisyfoundation.org
About SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia, operating in partnership with the Felician Sisters, is a 113-bed hospital specializing in behavioral health, bariatric surgery, wound/hyperbaric care, cancer treatments, and minimally invasive general surgical care along with pediatric emergency and NICU telemedicine program in conjunction with the physicians at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital of St. Louis, Missouri.
In 2016, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital was named a “Best Hospital” by US News and World Report for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for seven years in a row; the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award five years in a row; and in recent years the Critical Care Excellence Award. It also was recognized in 2016 through Quest by Premier Inc. with the Citation of Merit Award for High-Value Healthcare.
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