A 19-year-old female patient presented to the Emergency Department expressing feelings of being overwhelmed, frustrated, and hopeless. She had been to Crusader Clinic asking for help but was not provided with the resources she and her infant needed. Upon being placed in an ED treatment room, the patient was so distraught she could not hold her infant, nor did she want the infant in the room with her anymore.

The patient was a first-time mother with a 4-month-old infant with no family, friends, or resources to help her. She had spent the vast majority of her maternity time in homeless shelters. She recently was able to secure an apartment but had missed the last two months of rent because she was recently unemployed. Her lack of friends and family in the area to provide childcare nor the financial resources to pay for daycare hindered the patient’s ability to go to work. The patient stated she was to start her first day of orientation at UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital in Dietary the very next day. She again had no one to watch her child so she could attend orientation.

Amy Mehlhausen, the primary RN for this patient, began work immediately to provide support, compassion, and resources for the patient. Amy reached out to Maureen Prerost who was the blue nurse this day. Maureen took the infant with her to the trauma room and fed the infant, changed diapers, comforted, and rocked the infant until the infant fell asleep. Amy began seeking help from other staff about available resources, which was difficult on a Sunday afternoon. Chelsea Keehnen was familiar with Mother House, a temporary and intermittent placement center in Rockford for infant/child respite care. Amy also reached out to Case Management and A&R to provide further resources for the patient to receive counseling. After a few hours, the ED staff were able to coordinate placement of the infant for 72 hours at Mother House. This allowed the patient to go home and get the reprieve she desperately needed as well as make it to the next three days of new hire orientation, and ultimately keep the infant safe and well cared for. 

I, Gina Toms, was able to provide transportation for the patient and her child to Mother House and assist with completing the paperwork at the center. Upon releasing the infant, I then took the patient to buy her dinner and provided transportation back to her apartment.

Both Amy and Chelsea continued to stay in contact with the patient asking how she was doing, what she needs, and what they can help with. Chelsea has already donated infant clothing and is making arrangements to donate a stroller. Amy and Chelsea are also collaborating to provide a gift basket containing essential care and comfort items they will deliver to the patient at her residence. 

Thank you to EVERYONE who contributed to making a positive impact on this patient’s life and the life of her infant!