Ventura, CA – A Community Memorial Health System nurse, Lisa Baker, is a recent recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, a peer-elected awards program the hospital participates in each quarter. Nurses are nominated for the DAISY awards by patients, family members and colleagues.

Lisa, a registered nurse in Community Memorial Hospital’s Critical Care Unit, is known at the hospital for hercompassionate care, concern and dedication to patient health.

Lisa was nominated by a colleague who wrote: “Lisa is continually used as a resource by staff throughout the entire hospital for her wealth of knowledge, experience, amazing ability to critically think during tough situations, and herwillingness to work as a team to assist in any role -- whether it is assisting in giving a bed bath or to help stabilize a critical post-opt open heart patient in order to send the patient back to theOR.I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of the DAISY Award. Lisa is the type of nurse we should all strive to become. It is an honor to work with her.”

Each quarter, a nurse is selected to receive the DAISY Award by an awards committee. At a presentation given in front of the nurse’s peers, patients and leadership, the honoree receives a certificate of commendation for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honoree is also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

The DAISY Award is supported by the not-for-profit DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation. Bonnie and J. Mark Barnes created this foundation and award as a way to remember their son, J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick had a disease that attacked his body and was in the hospital for a long time. His nurses did such a great job with him that the Barnes family created an award that continues to recognize the excellent work nurses do every day.

Said CMHS Vice President of Patient Care Services, Bobbie McCaffrey, “We are proud to be among the hospitals participating in the DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroesevery day. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that.”

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.