<b>IAH Names New Chief Medical Officer</b>
Inova Alexandria Hospital has named John Audett, MD, as its new chief medical officer. In that capacity he will be responsible for the oversight of the Medical Affairs Office as well as physician relations and patient quality and safety.
Audett, with more than 20 years experience in healthcare, served as senior vice president and vice president of medical affairs at Kent Hospital in Warwick, R.I., before coming to Alexandria. In that capacity he led the medical staff and plotted the strategic direction for the hospital, according to Inova Health System.
He also implemented a Rapid Response Team and served as the hospital's liaison with the Warwick community. Prior to joining Kent Hospital, Dr. Audett owned an internal medicine private practice and held the position of general medical officer for the U.S. Health Service.
"Dr. Audett has a proven track record of achievement and we're very excited that he will join us. We are all confident that his experience and commitment to quality healthcare will continue to enhance our level of service to the community," said Christine Candio, CEO, IAH.
Dr. Audett graduated from and trained at the University of St. Louis School of Medicine. He earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island and completed studies at the American College of Physician Executives.
<b>—Chuck Hagee</b>
<b>IAH Nurse Wins DAISY Award</b>
Cari Freeman, RN, was recently named Inova Alexandria Hospital's first recipient of the DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing. Freeman, who works in the hospital's oncology unit, was recognized for consistently nurturing cancer patients and mentoring new nurses.
"Cari goes above and beyond in caring for patients. The DAISY Award program is one way for us to recognize dedicated nurses who really make a difference in the lives of patients and their families," said Joy Solomita, RN, chief nurse executive, IAH.
The non-profit DAISY Foundation, based in California, was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died in 1999 at the age of 33 from complications of an auto-immune disease. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for their care and caring.
Nursing administration selects a DAISY Award winner each quarter based on nominations from patients, family members and staff. The honoree receives a certificate of commendation for being an "Extraordinary Nurse" and a sculpture called "A Healer's Touch." It is hand-carved by members of the African Shona Tribe.
All the nurses in the honoree's unit also receive Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, a tradition which originated during Barnes' time in the hospital. One day he asked his family to bring him a cinnamon roll plus enough for all the nurses on his unit. Today, with the help of Cinnabon, the DAISY Foundation carries on that tradition by serving cinnamon rolls to the nurses on each honoree's unit.
IAH is one of nearly 200 hospitals nationally committed to the DAISY Award program. Since it began in 2001 an estimated 2,000 nurses nationwide have been honored with the award. Additional information about the DAISY Foundation is available by visiting <a href=http://www.daisyfoundation.org>www.daisyfoundation.org</a>.