Cox Branson presents quarterly awards

Cox Medical Center Branson recently presented five individuals and one team with quarterly awards. The awards included CoxHealth's Sunshine and PARTNERS Spirit, plus the international DAISY Foundation recognitions.

Christina Berge, emergency multi-care tech — Sunshine Award

When a patient who was being evaluated at the Cox Branson urgent care received an emergency phone call, Christina Berge stepped up to help.

The patient's husband had been taken to the emergency department with a life-threatening condition. Berge, an emergency multi-care tech in urgent care, took action by serving as a person the patient could lean on during those difficult hours.

She accompanied the patient in the emergency department so she wouldn't be alone while they waited on other family to arrive.

For her efforts, Cox Branson presented Berge with a CoxHealth Sunshine Award, which honors outstanding nursing support staff.

"Christina recognized how anxious the patient was," her nominator wrote. "Thank you, Christina, for living our mission."

Kevin Evingham, driver — PARTNERS Spirit Award

When a Cox Branson employee couldn't start her vehicle due to a dead battery, Kevin Evingham came to the rescue.

Kevin, a driver in supply chain logistics, offered to use his own jumper cables to get his colleague's engine started and the car back on the road.

"He was so willing to help others get this person taken care of," Kevin's nominator wrote. "This is the type of CoxHealth employee who should be recognized for going out of the way to show compassion for others."

Cox Branson presented Kevin with a PARTNERS Spirit award for his kind act. PARTNERS Spirit recognizes employees, volunteers, doctors or nursing students who make a significant contribution to the benefit of CoxHealth, an individual or the community. That contribution generally demonstrates excellence or exceeds the employee’s normal job responsibilities.

Tim Phillips, registered nurse supervisor — DAISY Award

Phillips made a huge difference for a family, which earned him a DAISY Foundation Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

"We were overwhelmed by Tim's care and compassion while my father was in the Critical Care Unit," the nominator wrote. "His servant heart was obvious the first moment we met him. He had a smile on his face every time he entered our room."

Regardless of the task, Phillips followed through with a cheerful and compassionate attitude, they said.

"His primary goal was to take care of my father's needs with the love and gentleness like I would. He is a treasure."

Phillips also received a second nomination from another patient.

"Tim took time to bond with me on a personal level along with treating me," this patient wrote. "Tim is very compassionate, personal with patients and an asset to CoxHealth."

Kyle Shrader, sergeant — PARTNERS Spirit

Shrader helped an older gentleman who seemed quite disoriented and upset because his friend was being seen in the Cox Branson emergency department. Sensing the man's tension, Shrader swiftly took action. He approached the visitor, kindly placed his hand on his back, and invited him to come to the cafeteria to talk.

But Shrader went even further. He bought dinner for the man in the cafeteria, then proceeded to comfort and encourage him that his friend would be well taken care of by the Cox Branson team in the ED.

Cox Branson presented Shrader with a CoxHealth PARTNERS Spirit Award for making such a significant contribution for this visitor to our hospital. "Kyle showed so much kindness and compassion, it made me cry," his nominator wrote. "Thanks for warming my heart."

Brooklin Taylor, registered nurse — DAISY Award

Cox Branson presented Brooklin, an RN in the adult psychiatric unit, with a DAISY Foundation Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

"I am a public safety officer for Cox Branson and have responded to multiple calls in the adult psych unit involving difficult or hostile patients," the nominator writes. "Brooklin has been the nurse for many of them.

"She handles every stressful event with a kind and caring heart, no matter how bad the situation is or how hostile the patient is toward medical staff. The world needs more people like her. She is an amazing person and caregiver."

Cardiac Rehabilitation — Team DAISY Award

A cardiac rehab patient penned a letter of multiple pages to thank the cardiac rehab team for believing in him even when he didn't believe in himself. Cox Branson awarded the group a team DAISY Foundation Award.

"I have completed my 36 sessions of cardiac rehab and I wanted to say thank you for sticking with me," Mikey-Mike writes. "Thank you for sticking with me when I was cranky, had a bad attitude, and didn't want to be here."

"Thank you for staying positive. Thank you for not giving up on me," he continued. "It would have been easy to be cranky right back at me, but then I may have missed one of the best opportunities I ever had. I was completely wrong about this program. This is one of the best things I have ever done for myself, in spite of myself."