Saline Health System presents DAISY and BEE awards

Patient nominations highlight acts of commitment and generosity

BENTON, Ark. (July 23, 2026) – After reviewing nominations submitted by patients, co-workers and other community members, Saline Health System leaders recognized two team members for providing exceptional patient care.

Kestynn Terry, a registered nurse, received the Diseases Attacking the Immune System (DAISY) Award for Extraordinary Nurses, and Chaka Bonds, patient care tech, received the Be Exceptional Every Day (BEE) Award.

The DAISY Foundation established the DAISY award more than 20 years ago as a way of recognizing skillful, compassionate care provided by nurses. Terry’s nomination, submitted by a patient’s husband, praised her steady support, clear communication and attentive clinical care during labor and delivery.

“Kestynn’s care during this patient’s labor reflects exactly why she was chosen for the DAISY Award,” said Chief Nursing Officer Josh Orzel. “She monitored the patient’s needs closely, offered clear guidance when labor stalled and stayed past her shift so she could be there through the delivery. That level of commitment is what families remember.”

The BEE Award complements the DAISY by recognizing exceptional caregivers in non-nursing roles. Bonds received multiple patient nominations highlighting acts of compassion, including retrieving clothes from her own vehicle so a patient would have something to wear home.

“Chaka’s nomination reflects the kind of dedication our patients feel every day,” said Orzel.  “Patients describe how she never stops moving, anticipates their needs and offers genuine support during some of their hardest moments. Her compassion and work ethic embody exactly what the BEE Award is meant to honor.”

About Saline Memorial Hospital

Saline Health System, a part of Lifepoint Health, is made up of Saline Memorial Hospital, a 177-bed acute care facility, and Saline Clinics, a network of primary care and specialty clinics. Saline Memorial Hospital has been caring for Saline County and its surrounding communities for more than 70 years. Saline Memorial Hospital is proud to be recognized as a Leapfrog Grade “A” Hospital for its commitment to patient safety and with the Platinum Performance Achievement Award from the Chest Pain-MI Registry for delivering the highest quality care for cardiac patients. The hospital is accredited through The Joint Commission for meeting quality and safety standards, the American College of Cardiology as a Chest Pain Center, the MBSAQIP as a bariatric surgery center, Optum in the Bariatric Centers of Excellence network, CARF as a rehabilitation center and the AASM as a sleep center.