NEWS RELEASE – June 18, 2026
Paintsville ARH Team Members Honored with DAISY and BEE Awards for Extraordinary Care
Paintsville, Ky. – Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) is proud to announce that Tommy Caldwell, RN, and Marchelle Underwood, administrative assistant, have been recognized for the extraordinary care and support they provide at Paintsville ARH.
Caldwell received The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses, which honors nurses who go above and beyond to provide compassionate, skillful and meaningful care to patients and families. He received three nominations from patients who praised his kindness, patience and attention to care.
“Tommy was very patient and kind,” one nomination read. “He helped me not feel pain and was very understanding. I felt safe in his care, and he treated me like he would a loving family member.”
Another patient credited Caldwell’s detailed care and pain management after hip replacement surgery with helping them feel safe and ready to return home as planned.
Underwood received The BEE Award, which stands for Being Excellent Every Day. The award recognizes non-nursing staff members who support patient care and work alongside nurses to create a positive, compassionate care environment.
“Marchelle exhibits everything the BEE Award stands for,” her nomination read. “She is always willing to assist anyone with any project. She fosters positive relationships with internal staff, vendors, patients and guests, and she always has the best can-do attitude. You never know what she may be doing, but you can take it to the bank she is busy as a BEE.”
Underwood’s nomination also highlighted her exceptional organization, attention to detail, support for employee events, willingness to help wherever needed and positive spirit across the Paintsville ARH campus.
“These awards are a meaningful reminder that extraordinary care is delivered by an entire team,” said Kathy Stumbo, Paintsville ARH CEO. “Tommy’s compassion and skillful nursing care help patients feel safe and supported, while Marchelle’s positivity, service and dedication make a difference for employees, patients and guests every day. We are proud to celebrate both of them.”
The DAISY Foundation was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes after his family experienced firsthand the extraordinary care nurses provide. The BEE Award complements the DAISY Award by recognizing the support staff who help make excellent patient care possible.
ARH congratulates Tommy Caldwell and Marchelle Underwood on their well-deserved recognitions and thanks them for the compassion, professionalism and care they provide at Paintsville ARH.
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About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system – a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH’s hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.