Emergency Department at Jefferson Methodist Hospital
October 2022
Emergency Department at Jefferson
Methodist Hospital
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States
Bradley-O'Toole, Bernice , MSN, MBA, RN; Aguilar, Allan MSN, RN; Allen, Daniel BSN, RN; Carr, Mary Ann, RN-BC; Clark, Ted, ASN, RN; Cornielle, Rosamaria, BSN, RN; David, Dorothy, BSN, RN; Davis, Jennifer BSN, RN, CEN; Debes, Andrea, BSN, RN; DeGeorge, Kaitlyn, BSN, RN; DiTommaso-Pomerleau, Mary, ADMINSTRATIVE ASSISTANT; Dolente, Isabella,BSN, RN; Dorsaneo, Damian, BSN, RN; Farrell, Pamela BSN, RN; Freeze, Caitlyn BSN, RN, ATCN, CEN; Gamble, Gloria, RN; Gavin - Ferro, Kim, ED TECH; Gedraitis, Joe, RN; Giuffrida, Lois, RN; Harrell, Erin, UNIT CLERK; Hensey, Rachel, BSN, RN, CEN; Lake, Brenda ED TECH; Lamana, Kimberly, BSN, RN; Lester, Ursula, ED TECH; McMullin, Brian, BSN, RN; McCloskey, Renee, BSN, RN, MSRN; McKeen, Laura, RN; Malinowski, Rita, BSN, RN; Miller, Kindra, ED TECH; Palmer, Sonya, BSN, RN; Pellicano, Nicole BSN, RN; Petty, Tenille, UNIT CLERK; Robinson, Carole, BSN, RN; Roland, Maureen, BSN, RN; Schenker, Anna, MSN, RN-BC; Smith, Jason MBA, CMSRN, NE-BC, ED DIRECTOR; Solmen, Kristine BSN, RN; Spector, Karen BSN, RN-BC; Stringfield, Kamau ED TECH; Svoboda, Jillian BSN, RN; Thompson, Beverly, BSN, RN, CEN; Tran, Han, BSN, RN, CCCTM; Tursi, Amanda, ED TECH; Varano, Joseph, ED TECH; White, Rhoda, UNIT CLERK; Machete, Rita, EVS; Mount, Nancy, ED REGISTRATION; Conson, Kensha ED REGISTRATION; Fredrick Randolph MD, ED Physician; Kory London MD, ED Physician; Cara Grugan PA , ED Physician Assistant; Daniel Devine PA, ED Physician Assistant; Timothy Macconnell PA ED Physician Assistant
In the Jefferson health system, we strive to improve the lives of all in our community who come to our doors. This is a story of how a department bands together to improve the life of one of their own. My mother was the ER manager for Methodist Hospital from 2004-2021. In May 2021, my family and I received the devastating news that my mother had a rare fast-acting terminal brain disease caused by a prior disorder called Creutzfeldt- Jakob-Disease (CJC). This is a rare disease that is often misdiagnosed, under-researched, and not fully understood. This disease causes the deterioration of the brain and the breakdown of the nervous system. It affects your mobility, cognition, and your senses.
Even though they were heartbroken, the ER department wanted to do anything they could to help my mother and my family during this traumatic time. Old, current, and new ER department employees started and organized a meal train that ran from June to August. The meal train allowed people to sign up to bring home-cooked meals or grub hub gift certificates to assist in feeding my family during those months. The meal train united all different departments, ancillary services, and campuses to participate. Various members of the department donated money to help with the needs and care of my mother. This enabled my family to buy linens, a stand-up recliner chair, and clothes for my mother. We also had lots of cards, texts, phone calls, visits, and care packages. In addition, we had a few nurses who assisted with direct care. As her daughter, one of the most special moments was observing nurses that have worked side by side with my mother bless her with their healing touch in her last days.
My mother died in December 2021. In order to visually show support to my family, ER employees wore royal blue Jefferson scrubs to her services. My family was put in an impossible situation. The love and support the MHD ER department gave us improved my mother's life in her last days and my family's life during this difficult time. They also united all different employees and different campuses to show their love and support of one of our own, demonstrating a sense of family.
Even though they were heartbroken, the ER department wanted to do anything they could to help my mother and my family during this traumatic time. Old, current, and new ER department employees started and organized a meal train that ran from June to August. The meal train allowed people to sign up to bring home-cooked meals or grub hub gift certificates to assist in feeding my family during those months. The meal train united all different departments, ancillary services, and campuses to participate. Various members of the department donated money to help with the needs and care of my mother. This enabled my family to buy linens, a stand-up recliner chair, and clothes for my mother. We also had lots of cards, texts, phone calls, visits, and care packages. In addition, we had a few nurses who assisted with direct care. As her daughter, one of the most special moments was observing nurses that have worked side by side with my mother bless her with their healing touch in her last days.
My mother died in December 2021. In order to visually show support to my family, ER employees wore royal blue Jefferson scrubs to her services. My family was put in an impossible situation. The love and support the MHD ER department gave us improved my mother's life in her last days and my family's life during this difficult time. They also united all different employees and different campuses to show their love and support of one of our own, demonstrating a sense of family.