Published: April 13, 2023

Daisy Team Award Given to Maternity Unit at Avita Ontario Hospital

ONTARIO – The Maternity Unit at Avita Ontario Hospital was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the superhuman efforts nurses perform every day. 

The nomination was submitted by Rachel K. for the outstanding care provided by the maternity team after she experienced a complete uterine rupture and detached placenta at 38 weeks pregnant. Rachel was taken to Avita Ontario Hospital by Springfield EMS where she underwent emergency surgery by Dr. Michael Subit. As Rachel was wheeled into the operating room, she looked up at nurse Lauren and told her “you have to save my baby.”

Baby Nora was born with a heart rate of 25 and was given to nurse Lauren to resuscitate while Dr. Subit and nurse Jenni stabilized Rachel and repaired her uterus. Rachel, a registered nurse herself, explained “If it were not for this team, we both would have died. It was their timeliness and emergent response to the situation that made a difference.”

Rachel and baby Nora are fully recovered with no complications. At the DAISY Award ceremony, Rachel expressed her gratitude to nurses Lauren, Ashley, Jenni, and Hilary, as well as Dr. Subit, the scrub tech Lynn, CRNA James, and Springfield EMS. Rachel added, “I will forever remember the additional nurses that cared for me as I was recovering. Especially Hilary who encouraged me with pumping and maintained endless positivity. Their love and encouragement helped heal the trauma that had just occurred.”

Kathy Durflinger, Chief Nursing Officer at Avita Health System, said, “We are extremely proud of the exemplary care our OB team provided. I am grateful that we are able to serve the community by offering 24/7 maternity services at Avita Ontario Hospital. When faced with emergency situations like this, time is critical.” The DAISY Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1999 by the Barnes family in memory of their son Patrick. It is a renowned international nursing recognition program that honors nurses in all 50 states and 35 other countries and territories.