Photo submitted to Times Observer Warren General Hospital Patient Care Technician Joe Horner was awarded the hospital’s Being Exceptional Every Day (BEE) Award. Pictured, from left, are CEO Rick Allen, nominating patient Dennis Lore, Horner, and Nursing Manager Kelle Bari.

Joseph Horner has been recognized for Being Exceptional Every day at Warren General Hospital.

Horner, a patient care tech, received the hospital’s seventh BEE Award on April 20.

The award was developed by nursing leadership to recognize hospital employees who are not nurses. It is a complement to the hospital’s DAISY Award, which recognizes nurses.

“Recognizing non-nursing staff who demonstrate our core values here at Warren General Hospital is important to us,” according to a release from Nurse Educator Penny Jensen.

“Just like in nature, bees are loyal, hardworking and cannot exist without the daisy, as neither can the daisy exist without the bee,” according to the release. “The BEE Award acknowledges the employee for going above and beyond for patients, their families, and our hospital every day. The Warren General Hospital Leadership Team appreciates everything they do to make the Hospital and our patient’s top priority.”

Horner was nominated by a patient.

“During my stay at Warren General Hospital, I was having a hard time dealing with my illness,” the patient said. “One aide in particular stands out by helping to ease my situation.”

The patient said Horner did that “by being compassionate, caring, and showed kindness by making sure I was as comfortable as possible. He would check on me every so often even if I did not ring the bell.”

“I would like Joe Horner to know how much his positive attitude, cheerfulness, and care he showed meant to me during my stay,” the patient said.

Employees may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at Warren General Hospital to receive The BEE Award. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the Honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors. Each Honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for Being Exceptional Every day. Honorees also receive a BEE Award pin, a generous gift card at the hospital’s Window Box gift shop, four free lunches at the cafeteria, eight-hour awards day off and a beautiful, very rare crystal called the Bumble Bee Jasper, found at Mount Papandayan in Indonesia.

“It is important our employees know their work is highly valued, and the BEE Program provides a way for us to do that,” Chief Executive Officer Rick Allen said.

“We are proud to recognize our exceptional healthcare workers,” Chief Nursing Officer Joe Akif said. “They are everyday heroes, and it’s important that they know their work is highly valued. The BEE Award provides a way for us to do that.”

“On behalf of all of us at Warren General Hospital, we thank you, Joseph Horner, PCT, for choosing Warren General Hospital as your employer and for the skill, care and compassion you give to our patients and coworkers every day,” Jensen said. “Congratulations.”