Joann Segler
July 2018
Joann
Segler
,
RN
ASC
St. Cloud VA Health Care System
St. Cloud
,
MN
United States

 

 

 

Joann Segler lives the ICARE values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. As an ASC Surgery Scheduler, Joann strives to provide top quality care to all Veterans. Joann methodically reviews the charts of potential surgical patients, in adherence to the ASC anesthesia guidelines. Though not providing direct patient care, Joann has proven how uniquely and holistically she considers each Veteran/patient story. Joann has arrived early for tours as well as stayed late to ensure that Veteran care needs are met in a timely manner. It is by such efforts, Joann has ensured the best Veteran outcomes are attained.
Joann was recently researching the chart of a Veteran who had been consulted for placement of an implanted port catheter when she came to the realization that his care needs were entirely fragmented. Her chart review noted multiple conflicting procedural consult requests. She found that the Veteran, caregiver, family, and care team were at odds in their understanding of the Veteran's desires. To further complicate matters, the Veteran's only method of communication was to write on a whiteboard.
Wanting to assist the Veteran, Joann personally contacted each of the members involved in the Veteran's care. She gathered each of their concerns. With this information, she established a family meeting where the Veteran and his son, could come together and discuss not only the Veteran's care options, but also enable him to express his desired care choices. Joann's compassion for this Veteran was unwavering, as she advocated for his autonomy and dignity. She was able to bring this father and son together in a neutral environment, where they discussed difficult life-altering choices. The Veteran was then able to openly share the decisions he was making regarding his care.
Joann utilized her talents and expertise in networking across the service lines and in the community. Joann united the interventions that were meant to assist the Veteran, but by circumstances, were actually in conflict. She used her moment of involvement in this Veteran's life to do more than provide a single service or procedure. Ultimately, Joann successfully provided compassion and Veteran-centered care at a very difficult time in his life.