Keli York, RN, Honored with DAISY Award at Ozarks Healthcare

Ozarks Healthcare is proud to recognize Keli York, RN, of its Med/Surg Department, as its latest recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

Keli was nominated by a patient whose family experienced a life-changing and deeply sensitive medical situation. In the nomination, the patient shared:

“This has been a very sensitive matter — life changing for our whole family. Keli has been awesome. She shows heartfelt compassion, has a super sweet bedside manner, and brings joy and smiles. She takes pride in her work. She understands what we are going through and makes sure we understand what she is doing. You can tell she is genuine and loves what she does.”

“Keli exemplifies the kind of nurse every patient hopes to have at their bedside,” Christen Weaver, Ozarks Healthcare Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), said. “Her compassion, professionalism, and ability to connect with patients and families during some of their most vulnerable moments truly set her apart. We are incredibly proud to have her as part of our nursing team.”

The DAISY Award is a nationwide program that honors the exceptional clinical skill and compassionate care nurses provide every day. It was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who passed away from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The compassionate care Barnes received from nurses during his illness inspired his family to create the foundation to recognize extraordinary nursing professionals.

“I am proud to serve alongside colleagues who are so passionately dedicated to living out our mission of serving this community,” Terence Farrell, Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO, said. “Nurses like Keli exemplify the compassion, excellence, and heart that define our organization and the care we provide every day.”

Ozarks Healthcare would also like to thank FNBC for becoming the newest sponsor of its DAISY Award program. Their support helps ensure nurses like Keli continue to be recognized for the vital impact they make on patients and families.

Members of the public - including patients, visitors, nurses, physicians, and Ozarks Healthcare staff - may nominate a deserving nurse by completing an online nomination form at www.ozarkshealthcare.com/your-visit or by picking up a form at locations throughout Ozarks Healthcare’s hospital.

Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

Keli York, RN, of Ozarks Healthcare’s Med/Surg Department is the latest recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.