Matt was our RN shortly after I was admitted and placed in the MOU. Matt provided me and my husband enormous support and answered every question respectfully and personally without sacrificing our thorough understanding of everything that was happening medically. Matt refused to allow us to be muted during discussions based on what he observed of my symptoms, and did so with the utmost respect with the doctors he worked with. Matt provided a level of care, compassion, and passionate concern that is difficult to find in any profession in today's society. During our stay, Matt attended to many other patients but was always available during his shift (including interrupting his lunch) to provide comfort care. Matt also provided mentoring to another RN, but took over without provocation when he noticed my comfort level was diminishing quickly. However, even after assuming the task, Matt ensured to utilize the time to mentor the other nurse in a way that put me at ease knowing what was happening and why this small task (putting in an IV catheter) was so important to my treatment. It is obvious to us that Matt is dedicated to patient care with his positive attitude, unwavering commitment to his patients and their families, and finally his ability to project a comfortable environment in the midst of a storm.
***
From the patient's spouse:
The only thing I can add to this is Matt always listened to me, even though I was not the patient. He recognized the importance a support person has in understanding what is happening with his patient. He allowed me to discuss seemingly unimportant information that lead him to better understand the overall concern with how this situation presented. I saw this watching Matt prepare to advocate for necessary testing and medications, which resulted in additional and crucial information for us to better understand everything that was happening and rule out serious risks. I only wish there was more we could do to emphasize how crucial his attitude, behavior, and dedication to care was to us during our stay at Alaska Regional Hospital.