Deaconess Memorial honors lab employee for patient follow-up care

A patient’s nomination for Ben Kizior centered on one practical difference: he took extra time to make sure the right follow-up happened so testing could be completed at Deaconess Memorial Medical Center.

That effort earned Kizior the hospital’s GARDENER Award, a recognition Deaconess Memorial created with the DAISY Award to honor support staff who go beyond their regular duties. Kizior works in the laboratory, where much of the work stays out of sight even when it shapes diagnosis, treatment and next steps for patients.

The hospital said the award is meant for employees who support and facilitate excellent patient care and serve as role models in how they supplement the work of nurses, physicians and other staff. Deaconess Memorial also said it values the full hospital team, including nonclinical workers in maintenance, billing, therapy, medical records and food service, because patient care depends on more than the people at the bedside.

Kizior’s recognition showed how that idea plays out in real time. The nomination did not focus on friendliness alone. It pointed to a specific outcome, testing that was able to move forward because Kizior stayed with the process long enough to make sure follow-up happened correctly. In a lab setting, that kind of attention can keep a patient from getting stuck between orders, results and next steps.

Deaconess Memorial said it was grateful to have Kizior as part of its team. The award also fit a pattern of recent recognition at the hospital, which listed Kerri Blessinger as a February 2026 recipient, Dr. Ryan Phillips in November 2025, Jeffery Curtis in August 2025 and Kaitlynn McFarland in May 2025. That run of names suggests the program has become a regular way for the hospital to spotlight employees whose work may not always be visible to patients but still affects care.

For more information about the GARDENER Award, Deaconess Memorial lists Anna Borden in Human Resources at 812-996-1488.