MONROE — Mary Tessendorf, RN, EMS Coordinator at SSM Health Monroe Hospital, was awarded the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award on July 11. She is the third DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at SSM Health in Monroe. 

The DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a nurse with 25-plus years of experience, are leaders in living the SSM Health Mission, mentoring others, clinical practice and showing unparalleled care for patients.

As EMS Coordinator, Mary ensures all EMS departments under the hospital’s medical jurisdiction has the proper training, supplies and support to provide services to communities in and around Green County. At the beginning of COVID-19, Mary assisted in coordinating community testing sites, hand-sewed reusable isolation gowns for her EMS teams and verified they were mask fit tested. She also oversaw the process of SSM Health Monroe Hospital becoming a Level III Trauma Center last September. 

In addition to her EMS Coordinator responsibilities, Mary picks up nursing shifts to help support her fellow nurses. When there was an unexpected staffing crisis in the ICU over the holidays, at the drop of a hat Mary volunteered to work several night shifts and worked through the holidays. She even rearranged her own families’ Christmas plans to be able to cover shifts.     

Mary was nominated by Michele Schiess, SSM Health Monroe Hospital’s Director of Emergency Services. Her nomination shared that “During heavy volumes in the Emergency Department, one can often find Mary triaging patients, gathering supplies, starting IVs, cleaning rooms, or rounding on patients. She jumps in when there is a need without complaint but true satisfaction of helping a department continue to see patients in an efficient manner. Mary does not ever want any fame or glory for her actions yet strives to make a team even stronger.”