West Central PA News

David Keth, an LPN at Punxsutawney Area Hospital (PAH), has been honored with the DAISY Award. Paula Spack, Vice President of Patient Care Services at PAH, stated, "PAH would like to congratulate David on receiving the DAISY Award. If you visit Rapid Care at PAH, you will be in great hands with LPN David Keth! The nominator for his DAISY award stated it best by saying, 'David is a gem of a nurse and never seems to have a "bad day". Every encounter I have ever had with him has been so positive, and you can just tell that he cares.' We agree and are very proud to have David as a nurse in Rapid Care."

David obtained his LPN license in 2001 after graduating from Brookville Area High School and completing his studies at Jeff Tech. He has been in the nursing profession for over 23 years and has been with PAH for nearly three years. When asked about his profession, David stated, "What I love about being a nurse is being able to help others and the patient interactions. I'm passionate about patient care."

The DAISY Award nomination highlighted David's dedication to patient care, with the nominator stating, "My son has special needs and gets frequent ear infections, so we have had many trips to Rapid Care, and David is always THE BEST. He is so patient and kind with my son and talks to him like a ‘normal’ person. He spends the extra time checking in with me and makes me feel understood and heard."

Expressing his gratitude for the award, David said, "Being the only LPN from PAH to have received this designation is very humbling, and I'd like to thank my coworkers, we learn so much from each other. We work well together and are a family."

The DAISY Foundation, created in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, honors nurses who provide compassionate and skillful care. The foundation was established in November 1999. It supports nurses worldwide in various roles through their careers, from being a nursing student to achieving lifetime excellence. The foundation aims to express gratitude to nurses and reinforce compassion in healthcare.

Any nurse at PAH can be nominated for the DAISY Award, and nomination forms are available throughout the hospital and on www.pah.org. The selection process occurs three times a year and is conducted by an internal committee. DAISY Award recipients receive several benefits, including a pin, a 'Healers Touch' Sculpture, and discounted educational opportunities.

Nominations are accepted year-round, and further information on the DAISY Award can be found by visiting www.pah.org.