Irene Dormido brought to my attention a life threatening problem for cardiac patients requiring follow up for their pacemakers. After a Martinez cardiologist retired, the Martinez pacemaker clinic was changed to a DGMC location.

Irene care manages CHF patients and reported that one of her elderly Veterans missed his pacemaker appointment because the shuttle to Fairfield left without him even though he had arrived early. Irene contacted the DGMC pacemaker clinic to reschedule and learned that even if her Veteran had caught the shuttle, he would have had to walk a great distance to get to the pacemaker clinic. Irene was alarmed that elderly Veterans with cardiac issues are expected to find their way from the one shuttle drop off point to the other side of DGMC for the pacemaker clinic putting them at great risk. She raised the issue through her Nurse Manager to Site Manager's at both Martinez and DGMC.

The outcome is that now an additional shuttle stop has now been added due to the number of VA patients going to appointments at all the Joint Venture sites - Heart, Lung, Vascular, Ortho, etc.

I want to take this opportunity to recognize the RN who spoke up for her patient's safety, Irene Dormido.