Barb Mercer
May 2021
Barb
Mercer
,
RN
UPMC Altoona, Altoona Family Physicians
UPMC Altoona
Altoona
,
PA
United States
Barb made extra “how are you doing calls” to him as his wife was dying and for months afterward.
We at Altoona Family Physicians have an elderly patient, a Korean War veteran with a degenerative neuromuscular condition who lost 5 children to suicide or other tragedies including cancer. When his wife of greater than 60 years died, Barb helped his physician in supporting this patient as he weathered this loss. He had been married for over 60 years, and he cared for his wife in their home for many years due to her illness. Eventually, she became a hospice patient and she died comfortably at home. Barb supported this patient as he made the difficult decision to not bring his wife in for acute care but rather use the supportive hospice services. Barb made extra “how are you doing calls” to him as his wife was dying and for months afterward. She helped keep him connected to our practice during his period of grief, often calling him about “routine labs” or his blood pressure, which were really done just to check in on him. She would pop in to see him during his visits with our physicians just to greet him, regardless of whether or not she was actually his “nurse” that day. She was a true partner in support of this grieving man who had so many losses and difficulties throughout his life!