Gunnison Valley Health Announces Betsy Welsh, RN as a DAISY Award Winner

Gunnison Valley Health is proud to announce Betsy Welsh, RN, as a winner of the prestigious DAISY Award. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide patients and families every day.

Gunnison Valley Health CEO, Jason Amrich, expressed his gratitude for Welsh and all the nursing personnel at Gunnison Valley Health.

“Congratulations to Betsy on this well-deserved honor. Her diligence and quick actions that day are a testament to her tremendous skill and experience as a nurse,” Amrich said. “Nurses are truly the heart and soul of healthcare. I am especially proud of our team because of how unique it is to serve in a rural setting and at a critical access hospital. Their roles and responsibilities are as diverse as the needs of our community.”

Welsh, a registered nurse working in the oncology department at the hospital, was nominated for catching a potentially life-threatening health condition in a surgical patient while she was working in the operating room.

In part her nomination read, “Betsy’s diligent observation led to the discovery that the patient had no peripheral pulses on the operative side. Betsy alerted the surgical team, and they were able to find a blood clot that needed intervention by a vascular surgeon, the patient was transferred to St. Mary’s to further his care.”

The nomination continued, “Due to Betsy's excellent assessment skills, diligence and commitment to patient care, this patient will avoid a potentially debilitating injury. This patient's excellent care is no exception for Betsy. She always brings the highest level of care and stands her ground when it comes to patient safety and care.”

Welsh explained that as a nurse, the significance of winning the DAISY Award cannot be understated.

“I was completely shocked the day I was presented with the DAISY award, what an honor! To me, the DAISY award shines light on the vital role nurses play in the health and clinical outcomes of the patients we get to take care of. I am very passionate about the part of my job that allows me to advocate for my patients, especially when it might impact a better outcome. I work with an incredible group of nurses and staff who go above and beyond day in and day out, so I am truly honored to accept this award as an example of the extraordinary and compassionate care we each strive to provide.”

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family 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.

To learn more or nominate a member of the Gunnison Valley Health nursing team for the DAISY Award, visit www.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/daisy.