Lisa Spaar
April 2019
Lisa
Spaar
,
RN
Western Psychiatric Hospital Mobile Medication Program
UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

Lisa brings many years of experience to her role as a Mobile Medication Nurse. She completes a thorough assessment and develops a plan to address behavioral and physical health care needs based on Recovery principles and consumer goals. She meets the clients and works with them to help them identify what is important in their life. Lisa is patient and will spend time in the engagement phase to build a healthy rapport. The consistent outreach and willingness to meet the clients where they are in their recovery helps develop a therapeutic alliance. Lisa goes into the most challenging circumstances with severely persistent mentally ill patients. She remains in control in the most chaotic of situations. She masterfully creates crisis plans and helps her patients remain calm even during times when the police need to be called. She is alone out in the field at times and acts independently in ensuring patient safety.
Lisa is enthusiastic and compassionate. She is committed to providing the Mobile Med clients excellent care. She demonstrates this commitment through her work ethic. If a client needs their medications and Lisa was unsuccessful in reaching the client during regular business hours, it is not uncommon for Lisa to visit the client during non-traditional hours. She frequently will accompany clients who previously have been unwilling to attend their psychiatric and PCP appointments. This intervention has benefited clients and has increased medical and psychiatric adherence to treatment. Lisa is a truly exceptional nurse. Not only does she incorporate her medical knowledge in her practice, but she also is always mindful of social determinants of health. For instance, in determining how to get a patient to take his/her medications - she looks at the financial impact of the medications on the family/patient.
Lisa is tireless when advocating for her clients. She pursued a GI specialist in advocating for her client to receive treatment for Hepatitis C. Lisa overcame many obstacles and was successful in procuring the treatment her client needed. Lisa always acts with her patients' best interests in mind. She advocates for them even when mental illness prevents them from advocating for themselves.
Lisa is always enthusiastic and enjoys her work. Lisa motivates her teammates by quietly modeling empathetic and excellent care to every client she sees. Outside providers trust her and request WPH Mobile Med to provide services for their clients. She is a role model to our clients and teammates. It is a pleasure to work with Lisa!
She goes out of her way for every client she serves. She is fearless in requesting necessary treatment from various providers. She effectively communicates with the treatment teams including psychiatrist and PCP. She will buy food for a client when they are in need and provide resources such as local food-banks locations and phone number.
She demonstrated to CCBH her tremendous ability to engage with a difficult to engage client by meeting him in the community. Lisa had a client who was to transfer to a higher level of care. Mobile Med had a 3-way phone call with CCBH, Lisa, and the other agency to coordinate the transfer of care. The other agency was not going to accept him because he was not available during regular business hours and not at home. Lisa explained due to his disorganization he had difficulty following through with instructions. She would meet him at his home before he left for the day around 7:30-8 am. If he wasn't home, he usually was at the local coffee shop. Lisa would find him, and he would return home with her to receive his injection. He was always pleasant and cooperative but easily forgot scheduled appointments. CCBH was very impressed with Lisa and educated the other agency how assertive outreach was done.
Lisa provides this level of excellent individualized care for every client she serves. These above examples are only a small representation of all she does to support her clients on their road to recovery.