My 97-year-old mother has been in the hospital twice in the last 2 months. Aspirated pneumonia in both lungs, dementia, hallucinations from delirium and assorted other issues. Mom is a kind person but with her dementia-she has become more difficult to deal with when doing procedures and all that happens in a hospital. The nurses and techs on this unit are very good.
As in most organizations there are these employees that go "above and beyond". Laura Marino is one. Thoroughly knowledgeable and skilled; she also has such kindness and compassion for her patients and family members as well. Mom has been in the hospital for about 25 days in 2 visits. Laura was exceptional. An angel on Earth. One day she contacted an ENT to help remove some ear wax which was making mom's disorientation to worsen. He couldn't come to the hospital even though Laura tried, and my mom's PCP tried as well.
With another day of encouragement Laura convinced the ENT doctor to come up to the hospital room and take care of the situation. Had Laura not done this we would have had to try to get mom a total care patient to his office. Quite an ordeal. It didn't take him long to remove the wax since Laura had irrigated the ear the prior evening. One small example of recognizing what would really help a patient such as my mother. Her kind, gentle nature made everything easier or mom. Quite an ambassador for HCA!