Team at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Receives DAISY Award for Life-Saving Care
March 27, 2026
//
Hospital News
HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital honored 27 members of its clinical team with the DAISY Team Award on Wednesday, March 25, for saving the life of Scott Yankey.
Scott Yankey, father of two, was cooking dinner with his family when he suddenly started experiencing severe angioedema, a deep swelling under the skin that can restrict breathing. A multidisciplinary team from the emergency department – including physicians, nurses, a physician assistant, patient care technician, certified respiratory therapist and pharmacist – worked seamlessly alongside physicians, nurses, a nurse practitioner and nursing leadership from the intensive care unit to deliver rapid, life-saving care.
“The empathy and humanity of the care teams at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital turned a terrifying situation into one that felt manageable and filled with hope,” Yankey shares in a letter to the team. “Every member of the staff was helpful, informative, and respectful of my care. Even in the midst of fear and uncertainty, I could tell that every single person was doing everything possible to keep me alive.”
Yankey and his family joined the St. Elizabeth’s care team for the DAISY Award presentation at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on March 25. The event was led by Regina Peterson, Chief Nursing Officer of the HSHS Southern Illinois Market. “I could not be prouder of this team. Because of their expertise and exceptional care, Scott’s life was saved so that he could be here with his family,” shares Peterson. “Caring for patients in their time of need is our calling. To be there for them and their families during life’s most challenging moments. I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside such skilled and compassionate individuals.”
The DAISY Foundation's mission is to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care provided to patients and families every day. The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes.
Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura , a little known but not uncommon autoimmune disease. 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.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses has been adopted by health care facilities around the world to celebrate nurses for their extraordinary care and compassion. The DAISY Team Award is for nurse-led teams of two or more who come together to solve a specific situation by going above and beyond.
Additional Resources
Media Contact
Kelly Barbeau
System Director, Communications & Public Relations