Mary Jo Ytzen, ARNP, is being honored as the 2016 Adair County Health System's DAISY Award Honoree. Mary Jo was employed at ACHS for five years. Sadly, in January 2016, Mary Jo passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Mary Jo was a family practice provider and covered the Emergency Room. She put aside her own personal issues and pain to continue to provide quality care for our patients until she retired in December 2015.
Mary Jo treated everyone who came through our doors with respect and as her equal. She listened well to patients about their fears, concerns, and questions. She made sure to explain in words that everyone could understand what was happening to the patient.
In the Emergency Room, she would pull a chair up beside the bed, hold the patient's hand and talked directly to them. She treated their family members with the utmost respect and the same bedside manner.
In the clinic situation, Mary Jo treated everyone with the same respect and dignity. We often heard patients compliment her on her ability to listen.
As a co-worker, she was supportive of all the events going on in the community and the health system. She attended fundraisers, volunteered her time for events and often did things without even telling anyone as she didn't need nor want the recognition. She did it because she was dedicated to Adair County Health System and the community that we serve.
We present this DAISY Award in memory of Mary Jo Ytzen and all of the compassionate care she provided for our community.