LC CCC Night Shift

The patient presented to the ED awake, alert, and oriented with the complaint of a rash and the feeling that something was stuck in her throat. The patient did decompensate very rapidly during her visit, ultimately requiring intubation and transfer to MHSE via Life flight. Per the patient's request prior to intubation, staff attempted to contact the patient’s emergency contact, using alternative means (FB messenger) to reach them and have them contact the ED. The patient's family was updated on the patient’s change in condition and transfer. During the patient’s second visit to the ED, she was prescribed anticoagulants for a clot found during this visit. When the patient left and attempted to get the prescription filled, she ran into difficulty at the pharmacy as her insurance required pre-authorization for that particular med. Our charge nurse was contacted by the pharmacist. Our charge nurse went above and beyond and attempted multiple avenues to try to get the necessary medication covered for this patient, including contacting the insurance company to explain why a pre-authorization wasn’t possible and discussing the possibility of an emergency coupon or waiver with the pharmacist. Ultimately, I believe that the ED physician changed the prescription to a different anticoagulant that the patient would be able to pick up the same day.