Julie Holyoak Touches Lives in Palliative Care
ROME, Ga., Sept. 1, 2022 – “She walks the halls of the hospital glowing of strength and courage." A teammate wrote these words about Julie Holyoak, the clinical manager and nurse practitioner of Palliative Care and recipient of a DAISY Award at Atrium Health Floyd.
The DAISY Award recognizes bedside nurses for the exceptional care they provide patients. June Hightower, who nominated her, said Holyoak is an unsung hero who understands how painful it can be when life quickly changes.
“She is there, pushing out every ounce of her own energy to make sure others have what they need," said Hightower. “Atrium Health Floyd clearly has one of God's angels walking into the rooms of patients providing them the comfort and courage that no one else can.
“I have seen the times where Julie's footprints are not hers. God has picked her up and carried her on to another patient or another family, to decide end of life care," continued Hightower.
In her nomination, she thanked Holyoak for her sincere devotion, love and gentleness. “I am positive you will have a crown of beautiful jewels when it is your time to meet Jesus."
“I am both humbled and inspired by the kindness of June Hightower's touching nomination," said Holyoak. “I work with incredible teammates who share a passion to enter the world of others and care for them in their most vulnerable moments."
She was presented with a pin and a sculpture called A Healer's Touch. Each piece is hand-carved for the DAISY Foundation by members of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
The DAISY Award is an international program that was established by the family of Patrick Barnes after he died from an auto-immune disease while being treated in a Seattle hospital. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The Barnes family was thankful for the care he received and created the award to thank bedside nurses for the job they do.
About Atrium Health Floyd
Since 1942, Floyd, now Atrium Health Floyd, has worked to provide affordable, accessible care in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Today, Atrium Health Floyd is a leading medical provider and economic force. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation's leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. At the hub of these services is Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center, a 304-bed full-service, acute care hospital and regional referral center. Atrium Health Floyd employs more than 3,400 teammates who provide care in over 40 medical specialties at three hospitals: Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia; Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama; Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Georgia, as well as Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health, a freestanding 53-bed behavioral health facility, also in Rome; and a primary care and urgent care network with locations throughout the service area of northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama.