Richard Ruiz, Emergency Services Unit Secretary, Recipient of the Bee Award at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital

Ludington, Mich. April 1, 2022 – Richard Ruiz, unit secretary in the emergency services department at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, was selected as the Bee Award winner by Laura Negele, RN who was named as the DAISY Award winner. The DAISY Award celebrates and honors extraordinary nurses. Each DAISY recipient gets to select someone who helps the nurse in caring for the patient. Negele selected Ruiz.

“Richard is the embodiment of patient-centered,” said Laura Negele, RN and recent DAISY award winner at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. “I nominated him for the Bee Award because he’s there for all of the clinical team and our patients in fierce one hundred percent capacity all the time but with a gentleness and kindness. Richard is a caring individual who goes out of his way to help others. He’s so deserving of this award!”

“I was very moved by the nomination by Laura,” said Ruiz. “I wasn’t expecting it at all; I was there at the ceremony just to see her get the DAISY Award and to congratulate her for such a well-deserved honor. I had no idea that she selected me for the Bee Award. I am grateful and honored to have been selected. Along with the entire emergency department team, we just want the very best for our patients.”

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

Nurses are nominated for the DAISY Award by patients, families and colleagues, and they are chosen by a committee of nurses at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. Awards are given multiple times a year, with each honoree given the opportunity to select another Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital team member, in any department, who they feel has helped them in their role caring for patients.

The DAISY and Bee awards are given throughout Spectrum Health.

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our long and continuing legacy of strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Our award-winning team improves health, inspires hope and saves lives across 13 counties in West Michigan. We bring together 11 hospitals—including Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, with expert care from 350+ pediatric specialists in 70+ specialties and programs—three rehabilitation and nursing centers, 120 outpatient sites and telehealth services. We are proud to work with 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, including Spectrum Health Medical Group, one of the largest and most comprehensive multispecialty physician groups in West Michigan.

ABOUT BHSH SYSTEM
Formed from two leading health systems in Michigan (Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health), BHSH System is a not-for-profit health system that provides care and coverage with an exceptional team of 64,000+ dedicated people – including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses offering services in 22 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities – and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving over 1.2 million members across the state of Michigan. Through experience, innovation and collaboration, we will build a system designed to meet the needs of the people we serve through care and coverage that is accessible, affordable, equitable and exceptional.

SOURCE: BHSH System