DELRAY BEACH, FL -- To recognize the hospital's extraordinary nurses, Delray Medical Center announced its second quarter 2010 DAISY award winner and finalists. 

Chosen from 46 nominations is winner Sherry Custary, Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Maureen Miller and Bonnie Holley, Intermediate Care Unit/Heart Health, and Esther Bien-Aime, Progressive Care Unit, are finalists. All the nurses were recognized for their education, training, skill, judgment and compassionate care, which truly make a difference in the lives of so many patients.

Numerous hospitals and medical facilities around the country participate in The DAISY Awards. Nurse administrators, peers, physicians and patients choose the recipients each quarter. As of July, 2009, over 4,500 nurses have received The DAISY Award.

Since it takes a team to provide great patient care, Delray physicians, nurses and staff enjoyed Cinnabon® cinnamon rolls during the presentation. Delray hung a banner to celebrate The DAISY Award honors and the nursing profession.

“Delray Medical Center is proud to celebrate our DAISY Award nominees and winner Sherry Custary,” said Delray Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Audrey Gregory. “We always strive to recognize our nurses, who take pride in the nursing profession and work very hard to provide quality care to our patients.”

The DAISY award is sponsored by Cinnabon's franchisees whose parent company, FOCUS Brands, is Premier Sponsor.  The awards are co-sponsored in several hospitals by families and companies including the Angels Baseball Foundation, Hill-Rom, Johnson & Johnson's Campaign For Nursing's Future, NovaVine, Sam’s Club, UnitedHealthcare, U.S. Airways, Wells Fargo and Wellington Vineyards.

About Delray Medical Center

For more than 25 years, Delray Medical Center, a 493-bed acute care hospital, has served the communities of South Palm Beach County. As both a community hospital and Level II trauma center located on a 42-acre medical plaza, Delray Medical Center has the ability to offer several specialized services including Cardiac Care, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation, Neurosciences, Emergency Care and more.

For the past four years, Delray Medical Center has been named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals (HealthGrades), as well as a Primary Stroke Center (Joint Commission), a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery and for Knee and Hip Replacement (Blue Cross and Blue Shield) and has also received the Get With The Guidelines award for coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure (American Heart Association.) Delray Medical Center is one of only 269 hospitals ranked in the top 5% in the nation for patient outcomes according to a new study by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings, organization, achieving the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award™.

The hospital is one of just 13 hospitals in South Florida, and just one of five in Palm Beach County that received the recognition for its clinical performance. The hospital is actively involved in community outreach, sponsoring several events, community lectures and fundraisers. Delray Medical Center is also a smoke free campus.

For more information or physician referral, please call 1-800-897-9789

As President of the Florida Emergency Nurses Association (FENA), McGarry was asked to speak about FENA’s priorities for the coming year. The challenges of ED overcrowding/boarding, care of mental health patients, violence against health care workers and moderate sedation were addressed.

Also attending were Delray Medical Center staff members Faye Collins, RN, MS, Emergency Department Director, and Margaret Neddo, RN, BSN, Emergency Department Clinical Manager. Dr. Andrew Bern, FACEP, Delray Emergency Department physician was present as well. Dr. Bern is a board member of the (national) American College of Emergency Physician Board and the (State) FCEP Board of Directors.

$22,000 in scholarships awarded to South Florida students

DELRAY BEACH, FL -- Paying for college can be a challenge. However, on June 21, Delray Medical Center held a reception for nine South Florida students who got their financial load lightened a bit.

The second annual Delray Medical Auxiliary Golf Tournament, held on April 24, raised $22,000 for scholarships awarded to the students. Each received $1,500 in scholarship money toward the college of their choice.

The auxiliary also gave $6,000 to the FAU College of Nursing, and $500 to five students who received scholarships last year, but did not get as much as this year's recipients.  

"This is incredibly rewarding," says Delray COO Jeffrey Welch. "The scholarships are awarded to students based on their scholastic achievements and community contributions." 

Scholarship recipients, all children of Delray employees and volunteers, are:

• Eric Lynch, Lake Worth High School, attending University of Florida
• Efren Bartolome, Forest Hill High School. attending Palm Beach State
• Jessica Perfetto, Atlantic High School, attending Yale University
• Claudine Milhomme, Dreyfoos School of the Arts, attending University of Florida
• Beth Kolies, West Boca High School, attending Florida State University
• Erica Kaplan, Park Vista High School, attending Florida Atlantic University
• Brian Gregory, Atlantic High School, attending University of Florida
• Jessica Gomez, Coral Springs High School, attending Florida State University
• Julia Zolotowsky, Santaluces High School, attending Florida Atlantic University

About Delray Medical Center

“This new program will help patients with diabetes to keep their condition under control and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle,” said Jeff Welch, COO. “Those who participate should experience reduced complications normally associated with their eyes, kidneys, heart and feet.”

Additional patient benefits include learning to perform proper foot exams at home, maintaining healthy levels of blood glucose, learning to control blood glucose while sick or driving, as well as stress reduction techniques.

This educational program is covered by Medicare and most insurance companies. Participants will learn about exercise, insulin, complications, medications, blood glucose monitoring, heart healthy eating and other related topics. Free monthly support groups and online education are also available at www.delraymedicalctr.com

Diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 23.6 million people in this country living with diabetes, and 24 percent of these are undiagnosed individuals. Each day, more than 4,384 people are diagnosed with diabetes and about one out of every five healthcare dollars is spent caring for a patient who has diabetes.

For more information on Delray Medical Center’s new diabetes program, please contact Delray Medical Center 1-866-573-3589.