In July, a patient was admitted to Hilo Medical Center (HMC) Surgical Pediatric Unit (SPU). This patient is originally from the mainland and ended up homeless in Hawaii. This patient has a history of mental illness and terminal cancer with metastasis. She had a significant cancerous, malodorous wound. When the patient was medically stable, she remained on SPU as a waitlist patient while awaiting an appropriate and safe disposition. Although the SPU staff did a wonderful job in caring for the patient, they at times struggled with dealing with the patient's numerous behavioral outbursts. Jessica advocated for the patient to be transferred to the BHU where the patient would be monitored and receive the appropriate treatment for her mental illness. Jessica knew that this decision would be met with resistance from the members of the health care team due to the difficulty in managing the patient's open wound on the BHU. After a team meeting, it was decided to transfer the patient to BHU.
Over the course of the next few days, and after adjustments in the patient's medication regime, the patient's behavior stabilized. The patient's desire was to return to Oklahoma to be with her family. HMC, in conjunction with other agencies, worked on this discharge plan. However, due to the patient's medical condition and behavioral issues, she would not be able to fly alone. Without hesitation, Jessica offered to escort the patient to Oklahoma. Jessica had developed a good rapport with the patient and had the ability to redirect the patient in a firm but non-intimidating way.
After working a full week as a manager, Jessica and the patient boarded the plane in the early evening hours for a flight to Oklahoma with several layovers. At each layover, Jessica tended to the patient's wound with a dressing change. The overnight flight was not an easy flight as the patient remained awake throughout the whole flight and needed frequent redirections. On Saturday morning, after 14 hours, they landed in Oklahoma and the patient was safely handed off to her awaiting family.
In order for Jessica to return to Hilo, she now had to drive 3 hours from Oklahoma to Dallas to catch a flight back to Hawaii. She arrived in Hilo on Sunday evening, just in time to return to work as the manager of BHU Monday morning.
The combination of Jessica's vast knowledge and experience in mental health, passion for caring for patients with mental health issues, and a strong leadership background makes her the perfect addition for the BHU.