Kuhns wins ACHS DAISY Award

Emily Kuhns of Adair County Health System was recently honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

The multiple nominations submitted read, Kuhns exemplifies the compassion, professionalism and exceptional care that the DAISY Award represents. Multiple nominators shared how her calm and cheerful presence immediately brought comfort during stressful surgical experiences for their loved ones. Families described her as incredibly patient and thorough, taking time to explain every step of the process, answering questions with kindness and providing reassurance when anxiety was high. Her clinical skill and attention to detail gave patients and families confidence that they were receiving the best possible care. Beyond her nursing expertise, Kuhns’ warm personality, positive attitude and genuine compassion left a lasting impact, whether it was easing nerves with humor and encouragement, offering thoughtful advice for recovery at home or simply going the extra mile to make a patient comfortable. Her dedication to patient-centered care and the comfort she provided to families truly embody the spirit of the DAISY Award.

“Adair County Health System would also like to extend its sincere congratulations to all of this year’s DAISY Award nominees. Each nomination reflects the compassion, dedication and exceptional care their nurses provide every day. Your kindness, professionalism and commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients and families do not go unnoticed. Thank you for the meaningful impact you make on our organization and community through the care you deliver,” officials wrote in a press release.

2026 Nominees:

Terrin Gettler

Stacy Luhrs

Madi Friedrichsen

Ann Rohner

Wendy Seddon

Adrienne Heckman

Molly Hennigar

Tiffany Jackson

Erica Kitt

Emily Kuhns

Kenzie Eddy

Philicia Hancock

Dylan Downing

Aubrie Keller

Kendra Tiefenthaler

Entire ER staff

Entire Nursing Staff

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill was inspired by this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

ACHS’s Chief Nursing Officer Philicia Hancock said Kuhns’ consistency in demonstrating the kind of compassion, patient-centered care that defines nursing excellence doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Her ability to combine clinical expertise with kindness, reassurance and genuine compassion makes a lasting impact on every patient and family she cares for,” Hancock said. “We are incredibly proud to recognize Emily as this year’s DAISY Award winner and grateful for the difference she makes each day.”