On Sunday, we had a patient who wanted to be transferred back to their "home" hospital in Greenville, Maine where she could be extubated for comfort care. Jane Thibodeau was instrumental in getting everything organized and explaining to the family what was needed to do this on a Sunday.
Jane went out of her way and took this family to the large quiet room so she could ask if this is what they really wanted. The husband and children, but especially the husband, kept saying, "just let me take her home". Jane explained we could not take her home, but we could take her to the Greenville hospital via an ambulance with a RN and Respiratory Therapist and extubate her once they got there with the Greenville hospital provider present.
Jane told the family they would need to pay for the ambulance and they were fine with this especially the husband who really wanted this to happen. Jane was compassionate with the family who kept saying thank you to Jane even when the physician at the Greenville hospital felt that this was a waste of resources. Jane advocated for the patient and family and explained to the physician that we, meaning MMC, had the resources to do this transfer and explained how much this family wanted this to happen.
I have always been able to go to Jane and explain what is going on. I was so astonished at how quickly things were put into action. Before I knew it, we were moving the patient to a transfer that the family and the MMC care team were wanting. Jane was wonderful with the family and getting everything lined up. We were on the road by 12:30 and Jane started at 09:00 am to make this transfer happen. She was amazing.