At Central Maine Healthcare, we believe in excellence. We are committed to ensuring our nursing and technical support teams provide the best possible care for our patients by maintaining a professional work environment that keeps our team members content and fulfilled. We achieve this through continuing education, opportunities for career advancement, and ensuring recognition programs are in place to celebrate our team members who consistently demonstrate clinical excellence and personify Central Maine Healthcare’s remarkable patient experience.
The DAISY Award
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is an international program that recognizes extraordinary nurses. Central Maine Medical Center, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital present a nurse at each facility with the award quarterly.
The DAISY Foundation honors J. Patrick Barnes, who died in 1999 at age 33 from complications of the autoimmune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura. His family witnessed so much love and compassion from his nurses during his hospitalization that they have chosen to recognize extraordinary nurses in his memory.
Every DAISY Honoree at Central Maine Healthcare is recognized at a public ceremony and receives a certificate, award pin, small sculpture, a bouquet of daisies, and a pan of cinnamon rolls — Patrick’s favorite food. The Barnes family hopes that whenever nurses smell that aroma, they pause and remember how special they are.
In addition to serving as role models for the nursing profession, DAISY Award Honorees:
- provide compassionate, high quality nursing care.
- foster a patient and family centered experience.
- create a culture that empowers and supports all team members.
- are passionate about the work that they do for the community they serve.
How to Nominate an Extraordinary Nurse
Anyone — patients, visitors, and all CMH team members — may nominate an exceptional nurse by filling out this online form. You can also download this form and either drop it in one of the specially marked boxes at the hospital or mail it to:
Central Maine Medical Center
c/o DAISY Coordinator
300 Main Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
Bridgton Hospital
c/o Paula Cox
10 High Street
Bridgton, ME 04009
Rumford Hospital
c/o Gail Zeringue
420 Franklin Street
Rumford, ME 04276
The SUNSHINE Award
The SUNSHINE Award is a Central Maine Healthcare program recognizing outstanding clinical team members who demonstrate excellence through their commitment, service and compassionate caregiving.
Clinical team members include any non-nursing, patient support staff.
An Outstanding Clinical Team Member:
- supports Central Maine Healthcare’s vision to deliver safe, reliable, high-quality patient care.
- displays professional excellence and is a role model for their profession.
- is passionate about the work that they do for the community they serve.
- creates a culture that empowers and supports all team members.
Each winner of The SUNSHINE Award is celebrated at a public ceremony and receives a certificate, a bouquet of yellow daisy’s, and an award pin.
How to Nominate an Extraordinary Caregiver
If you’ve had help from or worked with a deserving member of our support staff, you can nominate that person by filling out this online form. You can also pick up a SUNSHINE Award form at the hospital and drop it off in the specially marked boxes at the facility.
Questions about how to recognize a CMH Team member?
Email the DAISY Coordinator at DAISYAward@cmhc.org.
