Carlos has worked on the Stroke Unit for about one and a half years. He provides extraordinary care to many difficult cases of patients. This week Carlos took care of two patients. Both, unfortunately, had suffered pretty devastating strokes and were uninsured. Neither one of them qualified for charity care. Carlos is bilingual which helped in the care of both these patients. Carlos worked with both these patients throughout their stays; he helped Case Management and the families work through many different things relating to discharge. The one patient's stroke was so bad that she was going to need a hospital bed when she left. The family had funds, however not much, Carlos took it upon himself to try to find resources for this family. Carlos found a free hospital bed on Craigslist for the family. He taught family in Spanish and reviewed all the details of the care the patient would need at home. He made sure the family understood everything from medications to bathing and turning the patient.

The other patient lived out of state. He found out that for the husband to visit he had to pay a friend to drive him to the hospital. Plans for her discharge got changed and Carlos called the husband and told him not to come in so he could save money. He was here when this patient was discharged this week. He again reviewed with the husband, in Spanish, how important her medications and care were to help her continue to get stronger. At the end of Carlos' shift, he called the husband to see how things were going with the wife at home. He took the time to answer any questions he had.

I am truly impressed with the care and compassion, Carlos showed for these two patients and their families. Carlos makes great connections will all the patients he had the privilege to serve. I am so lucky to have him part of my team on Stroke.