Nurse Portia Judson Awarded MDI Hospital’s 1st Daisy Award

Portia Johnson, a RN at MDI Hospital was recently honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at MDI Hospital. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. This was the 1st DAISY Award that MDI Hospital has presented.

The nomination submitted said

“While descending the Giant Slide Trail in Acadia National Park Search and Rescue was called, eventually I was able to walk out to the trailhead, and my daughter drove me directly to the ER at MDI Hospital. I was promptly taken in and escorted to treatment room where I first met Portia. She got me settled, checked me out and began to calm my nerves. She took my vitals, cleaned my wounds, and began a more thorough evaluation with the help of Gordon Murphy. They made a great team. After my CT scans, I returned to the treatment area where Portia talked me through their assessment (thankfully no fractures but a mean gash in my head). Eventually I got 9 staples in my head then the long wait for CT scan results. Portia hung in with us all this time. Got me laughing finished cleaning all my wounds and put on dressings where necessary. She was always calm, patient, informative and thorough, just what one would wish for when you have the frightening experience of visiting an emergency room. Eventually we got the results of the scan, and I was cleared for discharge. Before we left Portia gave us a great recommendation for a pizza joint that was still open. It was delicious I will ever be grateful for the care and support I received from Portia. She did MDI Hospital and the island proud. Thank you, Portia.”

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes.  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.  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.

Said Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, CEO and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do.  The kind of work the nurses at MDI Hospital are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.

To nominate a nurse at MDI Hospital, visit this page:

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