May 2019
Alyson
Thomas
,
BSN, RN, ACM
Care Management
Meritus Medical Center
Hagerstown
,
MD
United States
Alyson consistently goes above and beyond in doing what is right for our patients and ensures that the staff of her department have the resources that are necessary to do so.
An example that I would like to share is about a recent patient on an inpatient unit who was homeless, estranged from any family and living in a motor home with her fiancé. She was brought to the hospital with her fiancé being her only emergency contact. Care Management was initially unable to contact him, later finding out he was also admitted to the hospital in critical condition. The patient's fiancé transitioned to hospice care at a nearby facility. The patient was unable to visit while he was at the hospital due to her condition. Care Management collaborated with Infectious Disease and Hospice staff to allow for a visit as the patient's fiancé was determined to be rapidly deteriorating. Care Management attempted to arrange transport for the patient to visit, but no transport was available except for stretcher (and the patient was self-pay). The patient was cleared for leave of absence to visit fiancé by attending physician. Care Management discussed with the manager who coordinated private transport and stayed with the patient for several hours to visit her dying fiancé. Alyson brought her clean clothes and accompanied the patient back to the hospital to ensure spiritual care was available. The patient's fiancé passed away early the next morning. Without Alyson's assistance, this patient would have not had the opportunity to say goodbye. The couple was hoping to get married soon.
Additionally, it was also discovered that the couple had an elderly dog (12-year-old chocolate lab named Marley) that had been taken to the Humane Society. Alyson went to adopt this dog into her own family and took photos for the patient (which she gave to the bedside nurses as a way to comfort the patient). The patient will ultimately go to a special nursing facility for rehab and has no family available/willing to care for the elderly pet.
I feel this is an amazing story of selflessness and going way above and beyond is a small example of Alyson's persistence and huge heart, who as a leader, inspires me every day!
Note: This is Alyson's 2nd DAISY Award!
An example that I would like to share is about a recent patient on an inpatient unit who was homeless, estranged from any family and living in a motor home with her fiancé. She was brought to the hospital with her fiancé being her only emergency contact. Care Management was initially unable to contact him, later finding out he was also admitted to the hospital in critical condition. The patient's fiancé transitioned to hospice care at a nearby facility. The patient was unable to visit while he was at the hospital due to her condition. Care Management collaborated with Infectious Disease and Hospice staff to allow for a visit as the patient's fiancé was determined to be rapidly deteriorating. Care Management attempted to arrange transport for the patient to visit, but no transport was available except for stretcher (and the patient was self-pay). The patient was cleared for leave of absence to visit fiancé by attending physician. Care Management discussed with the manager who coordinated private transport and stayed with the patient for several hours to visit her dying fiancé. Alyson brought her clean clothes and accompanied the patient back to the hospital to ensure spiritual care was available. The patient's fiancé passed away early the next morning. Without Alyson's assistance, this patient would have not had the opportunity to say goodbye. The couple was hoping to get married soon.
Additionally, it was also discovered that the couple had an elderly dog (12-year-old chocolate lab named Marley) that had been taken to the Humane Society. Alyson went to adopt this dog into her own family and took photos for the patient (which she gave to the bedside nurses as a way to comfort the patient). The patient will ultimately go to a special nursing facility for rehab and has no family available/willing to care for the elderly pet.
I feel this is an amazing story of selflessness and going way above and beyond is a small example of Alyson's persistence and huge heart, who as a leader, inspires me every day!
Note: This is Alyson's 2nd DAISY Award!