Hyperbaric Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
August 2023
Hyperbaric Medicine
at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Hyperbarics
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center University Hospital
Columbus
,
OH
United States
Anne Lewis, RN, Savannah Whitten, RN, and Tracy Zeller, RN, Jennifer Foulk, RN
Savannah Carlisle, Jennifer Foulk, Anne Lewis, and Tracy Zeller went above and beyond to help a pediatric patient feel comfortable, safe, and special. At OSUWMC, pediatric patients are somewhat of a rarity to see. For most areas of care, children go to NCH. However, when a child needs hyperbaric therapy for a medical condition, they come to Ohio State. Undergoing hyperbaric treatments can be intimidating for even a grown adult. For a child, the thought of going into an acrylic chamber where space is somewhat limited, and you cannot be immediately removed from it makes the experience even more terrifying.
The patient for which the HBO team went above and beyond was an 8-year-old male needing to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy in preparation for a flap/graft. A previous graft had failed, so this time, his medical team wanted to ensure he had the best chance of being successful. The original plan was for the patient to have 10 treatments prior to surgery and 10 treatments after. The staff attempted to make the patient feel as comfortable as he could be, by going to their local libraries and renting him movies that he would like.
Renting videos for our patients is a somewhat common practice in the HBO unit, as the patients cannot take anything in with them. In addition to getting the patient videos to help pass the time, they wanted to celebrate the patient’s bravery in going through such an ordeal. The nurses went out of their way to purchase Ninja Turtle-themed decorations to decorate the wheelchair he would require after surgery. The wheelchair had a turtle shell costume on the back of the seat, green lights up the IV pole, and an orange eye mask so that he could feel like Michelangelo, his favorite turtle. They also got him a Lego set of Michelangelo’s pizza shop for him to build after surgery.
On the patient’s first day back after surgery, he was welcomed at the front of the ER with his turtle wheelchair. After treatment, he was given his Lego gift to take home and build with his family. The patient’s eyes lit up with all of these things. He proudly wore his mask to and from his car. He was beyond excited to show staff his nun chucks which further made him feel like Michelangelo. When he completed the treatments, he was able to keep the eye mask and turtle shell. Throughout his remaining 10 treatments, the patient received many compliments in the ER hallways.
Receiving the DAISY Award for going above and beyond for this patient would be an acknowledgment for the department for the care they provide to all their patients. In this department, patient surveys are not performed, yet the majority of patients become attached to the staff, as the staff does to them. However, nothing will compare to seeing how happy the patient was and the joy he got playing with his Legos and dressing up as a turtle. The mother and patient gave the staff pictures to remember our time together. Pictures from the patient still hang in the department with the fondest of memories attached.
The patient for which the HBO team went above and beyond was an 8-year-old male needing to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy in preparation for a flap/graft. A previous graft had failed, so this time, his medical team wanted to ensure he had the best chance of being successful. The original plan was for the patient to have 10 treatments prior to surgery and 10 treatments after. The staff attempted to make the patient feel as comfortable as he could be, by going to their local libraries and renting him movies that he would like.
Renting videos for our patients is a somewhat common practice in the HBO unit, as the patients cannot take anything in with them. In addition to getting the patient videos to help pass the time, they wanted to celebrate the patient’s bravery in going through such an ordeal. The nurses went out of their way to purchase Ninja Turtle-themed decorations to decorate the wheelchair he would require after surgery. The wheelchair had a turtle shell costume on the back of the seat, green lights up the IV pole, and an orange eye mask so that he could feel like Michelangelo, his favorite turtle. They also got him a Lego set of Michelangelo’s pizza shop for him to build after surgery.
On the patient’s first day back after surgery, he was welcomed at the front of the ER with his turtle wheelchair. After treatment, he was given his Lego gift to take home and build with his family. The patient’s eyes lit up with all of these things. He proudly wore his mask to and from his car. He was beyond excited to show staff his nun chucks which further made him feel like Michelangelo. When he completed the treatments, he was able to keep the eye mask and turtle shell. Throughout his remaining 10 treatments, the patient received many compliments in the ER hallways.
Receiving the DAISY Award for going above and beyond for this patient would be an acknowledgment for the department for the care they provide to all their patients. In this department, patient surveys are not performed, yet the majority of patients become attached to the staff, as the staff does to them. However, nothing will compare to seeing how happy the patient was and the joy he got playing with his Legos and dressing up as a turtle. The mother and patient gave the staff pictures to remember our time together. Pictures from the patient still hang in the department with the fondest of memories attached.