Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Recognizes Associates for Exceptional Care
At Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, the care we provide is rooted in compassion, connection, and a shared commitment to serving others. Each year, we recognize Associates who bring that commitment to life through the DAISY Award, BEE Award, and Lewis Young Impact Award.
The DAISY Award is presented during National Nurses Week, followed by the BEE Award and Lewis Young Impact Award during National Hospital Week. These recognitions highlight the many ways our Associates care for patients, support one another, and strengthen our organization.
This year’s DAISY Award recipient is Tianna Farris, RN, on the acute care floor. The DAISY Award is a national program that honors nurses who go above and beyond in delivering compassionate, skillful care. Tianna was nominated after taking time to comfort a confused and upset patient by sitting with them, offering reassurance, and even painting their fingernails. Her calm presence helped ease the patient’s anxiety and turned a difficult situation into one of connection and kindness. This moment reflects the heart of nursing we see every day at PVCH.
The BEE Award, which stands for Being Excellent Every Day, recognizes non-nursing Associates who play an essential role in the patient experience. This year, we were proud to present our first BEE Award to Lexi Lemuz, Environmental Services Associate. While her role ensures a clean and safe environment, what stood out was the time she took to connect with a patient during a difficult stay. Through conversation, kindness, and simply being present, she helped that patient feel cared for in a way that went beyond her role. Lexi’s actions are a strong reminder that every Associate contributes to the healing experience.
Kristi Engle, Lab Supervisor, has been named the first recipient of the Lewis Young Impact Award, the highest honor at PVCH. This award recognizes an Associate whose influence extends beyond their role and reflects a deep commitment to serving others.
Named in honor of Lewis Young, the award reflects the standard he set through his support of PVCH, our patients, this community, and the entire Midwest. This impact included his career as a psychologist at Larned State Hospital, piloting over 700 Midwest volunteer flights with Angel Flight Central, founding an endowment to the PVCH Foundation, and contributing imaging equipment to PVCH. The award was created to recognize those who carry that same spirit of impact forward in their work.
Kristi embodies that impact. Her influence can be felt across the organization. In her role, she brings consistency, accuracy, and professionalism to the laboratory each day, while also investing in the culture of PVCH as chair of the Culture Committee. She works to support her peers, strengthen connections, and create an environment where people feel valued. Kristi leads in a way that reflects integrity, respect, and genuine care for others, and her impact is seen not only within her department but across PVCH and in the community we serve.
These awards reflect the people who make PVCH what it is. We are proud to recognize Tianna, Lexi, and Kristi, and we are grateful for the care, compassion, and impact they bring to our patients, our teams, and our community every day.
Patients, families, and Associates are encouraged to recognize those who go above and beyond by submitting a nomination year-round. To nominate an Associate, visit pawneevalleyhospital.com, click on the Patients and Visitors tab, and select “Thank An Associate.”