Lilliana Chavez wins DAISY Award for Nursing Excellence at San Luis Valley Health
In the atrium of San Luis Valley Health, surrounded by patients, family and coworkers, Lilliana Chavez received a surprise when she found out she won the Daisy Award for Nursing Excellence. Named this quarter’s DAISY Award honoree, Chavez joins an exceptional group of nurses, recognized for their compassion, care and nursing excellence.
Nurses can be nominated for the DAISY Award by patients, families or coworkers. Lilliana was double-nominated for the Daisy Award by two patients who were grateful for her excellent care. One of her patients wrote in their nomination that Chavez was, “so kind, I could really tell that she really cared.” The patient was impressed with Chavez’s gentle and caring nature, writing, “She was very gentle and kept asking me if I was doing okay…she would always take a few minutes just to small talk with us about different things.” This patient was so grateful that Lilliana made a situation that may have otherwise been unpleasant, really enjoyable.
Another patient raved about Chavez’s skills, commenting that an injection he has regularly is usually painful but Chavez “somehow managed to make the experience considerably less painful”, that, on top of the fact that she was “pleasant, cheerful and accommodating.”
Chavez works in San Luis Valley Health’s Oncology/Infusion Center. David Gallegos, the Director of Specialty Services at San Luis Valley Health, which includes the Oncology/Infusion Center, shared his thoughts on her win, “For nearly five years, including four dedicated to the Infusion Center, Lilliana has distinguished herself through her unwavering dedication to patient care and her passion for education. Her quiet strength, kindness, and compassionate nature reflect the highest standards of nursing. Beyond her skill and clinical expertise, Lilliana brings a calming presence and a genuine commitment to each patient she serves. She is not only an asset to the Infusion Center team but to the organization as a whole, and her contributions extend far beyond her daily responsibilities.”
About the DAISY Award:
The DAISY Foundation was established in honor of Patrick Barnes, who passed away due to complications from an autoimmune disease. DAISY is an acronym for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System”. Inspired by the remarkable compassion and dedication of the nurses who cared for Patrick, his family created the DAISY foundation as a way to thank nurses everywhere for the exceptional work they do every day.
Today, the DAISY Award is celebrated by thousands of healthcare organizations around the globe. San Luis Valley Health, which has been recognizing outstanding nurses through the DAISY program since 2022. Award recipients are proudly featured at both Conejos County Hospital in La Jara and the Regional Medical Center in Alamosa. Now, Chavez’s name will be added to this distinguished list of honorees, and her department will display the DAISY Award Honoree banner until the next recipient is announced. To see all of the San Luis Valley Health DAISY Award recipients, you can view the DAISY mural in the Regional Medical Center’s lobby.
San Luis Valley Health is always accepting nominations for the DAISY Award for Nursing Excellence. To nominate a nurse or learn more about the award, please visit our DAISY Award page.
