MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center
May 2021
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Observation Care Unit
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center
Laguna Hills
,
CA
United States
Manager - Maria Gutierrez, MSN, RN, CPAN
Supervisors- Kevin Stephan, RN, Lisa Ross RN, Denise Lane RN, Rita Zeek RN
Clinical Coordinators-Jennifer Roecker, RN, Kristy Kanamoto RN,
Relief Charge RNs- Chiayu Hwang RN, James Lee RN, Olivia Bernal RN
Staff Nurses: Jenny Chou, RN, Ellen Patriarca, RN, Linda Tran, RN, Amy Eley, RN, Chelsea Schmitz, RN, Crista Bowman, RN, Madison Gersten, RN, Lisa Holloway, RN, Vanna Jani Hoang, RN, Rachel Lang, RN, Ashley Marohnic, RN, Siriwan Nasongkhla, RN, Ann Quan, RN, Brooklyn New, RN, Michelle Camarena Welty RN,
Monitor Techs: Dafne Rubio, Lori Behr, Francis Tandiama, Samantha Patrick,
Patient Care Technicians: Elinor Organista Longares, Marisol Silva, Ellen Misaico, Daniel Swanson, Mostafa Jaman, Argelia Moreno
Supervisors- Kevin Stephan, RN, Lisa Ross RN, Denise Lane RN, Rita Zeek RN
Clinical Coordinators-Jennifer Roecker, RN, Kristy Kanamoto RN,
Relief Charge RNs- Chiayu Hwang RN, James Lee RN, Olivia Bernal RN
Staff Nurses: Jenny Chou, RN, Ellen Patriarca, RN, Linda Tran, RN, Amy Eley, RN, Chelsea Schmitz, RN, Crista Bowman, RN, Madison Gersten, RN, Lisa Holloway, RN, Vanna Jani Hoang, RN, Rachel Lang, RN, Ashley Marohnic, RN, Siriwan Nasongkhla, RN, Ann Quan, RN, Brooklyn New, RN, Michelle Camarena Welty RN,
Monitor Techs: Dafne Rubio, Lori Behr, Francis Tandiama, Samantha Patrick,
Patient Care Technicians: Elinor Organista Longares, Marisol Silva, Ellen Misaico, Daniel Swanson, Mostafa Jaman, Argelia Moreno
When this unit was created, we were designated as the Outpatient/Observation Care unit for Saddleback Medical Center. Our patients were admitted for short stays (24-48 hours), then discharged or transferred to the Inpatient units. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, in early 2020, we were designated as the main admitting unit for Covid 19 positive patients not requiring ICU care, which changed our entire focus. And what a year it has been. The resilience of our team has been awe-inspiring to be a part of and witnessed.
From short-stay patients who leave within a day or two to caring for very ill patients that typically have hospitalizations from 5 days to multiple weeks or months was just one of the many challenges we faced. We were caring for a very 'different' patient population with a new unknown illness, symptoms, needs, and treatments were there changing and evolving over time, sometimes on a daily basis.
As the lengths of stays increased, we cared for and bonded with our patients and their families. When patients lost their battle with their illness, our reality became the daily loss of those we cared for. At the height of the numbers of patients we cared for, we experienced the loss of life or transfer of patients to ICU for critical care, on a daily basis, recognizing the direness of their conditions. When they were afraid of the unknown, we held their hands, provided comfort, and at times, prayed with them.
Our team members, including RNs, PCTs, Monitor Techs, Clinical Coordinators, and the Leadership Team of Clinical Supervisors and Manager, grew beyond expectations in clinical abilities and excellence as well as becoming the emotional backbone for patients, their families, and importantly, each other. We literally could not do what was necessary without our clinical partners, including Respiratory Therapists, Physical Therapists, Housekeeping, and all other interdisciplinary teams that came to our aid on a daily and sometimes 'moment to moment' basis, including staff members who floated to our unit to meet staffing needs.
Our team initiated the creation of the "Sunshine Therapy" treatment that has shown to have a huge positive impact on the recovery of our patients. This therapy allows patients, that meet the criteria, to be able to go outdoors with supervision to a designated area to experience being outside after being confined in private rooms for long periods of time. It also allows patients to be able to have family members join them (from safe distances) allowing emotional contact with loved ones that would otherwise have been impossible. Also, family contact was provided to patients and families as we became experts in the use of iPads and FaceTime.
It has been my privilege to be a small part of this team and every 1 East team member is respected, trusted, appreciated, and valued as vital to our success. With our unique experiences, our quiet resolve, and our unlimited commitment to our patients, their families, and each other, we have become a closer-knit family and look forward to a healthier future for all.
***
I am extremely impressed with the care provided by this team and the sacrifice they made on a daily basis.
***
2020 Was a challenging and incredible year for the 1 East team with the onset of COVID. This team was amazing, open to change, and boy how their flexibility was put to the test. To help support the hospital, this team started a blood transfusion process, COVID testing (first outside, then inside) for procedural patients, became a GIP Hospice unit so families could be with their loved ones at this critical time, and became the primary unit for COVID patients - managing the expansion and contraction of the unit as needed to still allow for Observation admissions when they could be accommodated. Throughout the challenge, the unit welcomed a continuous stream of floating staff (RNs, PCTs) and because of excellent supervision, processes, communication, and teamwork, no staff themselves became infected with the COVID Virus. Communication with doctors and ancillary departments was imperative for positive outcomes for our patients, and I am proud of the relationships our unit established and grew over time.
***
Throughout this time, they have demonstrated admirable flexibility, compassionate care to the patients and their families, and outstanding teamwork. The COVID surge this past year presented many challenges to 1E. The staff was asked to switch gears many times and adapt to new protocols and types of patients. We went from seeing our regular procedural patients to COVID patients to GIP, to post-procedural again, and then back to COVID patients. Throughout, the 1E staff remained upbeat and flexible. the deaths of many of our COVID patients were emotionally traumatic for the 1E staff. They were often called to deal with grieving family members, while at the same time grieving themselves. The staff spend a lot of time talking with families and they showed great compassion in their dealings with them. Finally, the 1E staff could not have done what they did if they hadn't worked as a great team. When a staff member called into their headsets that they needed some kind of help or supply, everyone jumped to help out. This outstanding teamwork helped to ease the difficulties we faced taking care of our COVID patients. It has been a tough year for everyone, and we are looking forward to better days. Their flexibility, the compassionate care they provided, and the teamwork they demonstrated are all good reasons to award them this distinguished honor.
From short-stay patients who leave within a day or two to caring for very ill patients that typically have hospitalizations from 5 days to multiple weeks or months was just one of the many challenges we faced. We were caring for a very 'different' patient population with a new unknown illness, symptoms, needs, and treatments were there changing and evolving over time, sometimes on a daily basis.
As the lengths of stays increased, we cared for and bonded with our patients and their families. When patients lost their battle with their illness, our reality became the daily loss of those we cared for. At the height of the numbers of patients we cared for, we experienced the loss of life or transfer of patients to ICU for critical care, on a daily basis, recognizing the direness of their conditions. When they were afraid of the unknown, we held their hands, provided comfort, and at times, prayed with them.
Our team members, including RNs, PCTs, Monitor Techs, Clinical Coordinators, and the Leadership Team of Clinical Supervisors and Manager, grew beyond expectations in clinical abilities and excellence as well as becoming the emotional backbone for patients, their families, and importantly, each other. We literally could not do what was necessary without our clinical partners, including Respiratory Therapists, Physical Therapists, Housekeeping, and all other interdisciplinary teams that came to our aid on a daily and sometimes 'moment to moment' basis, including staff members who floated to our unit to meet staffing needs.
Our team initiated the creation of the "Sunshine Therapy" treatment that has shown to have a huge positive impact on the recovery of our patients. This therapy allows patients, that meet the criteria, to be able to go outdoors with supervision to a designated area to experience being outside after being confined in private rooms for long periods of time. It also allows patients to be able to have family members join them (from safe distances) allowing emotional contact with loved ones that would otherwise have been impossible. Also, family contact was provided to patients and families as we became experts in the use of iPads and FaceTime.
It has been my privilege to be a small part of this team and every 1 East team member is respected, trusted, appreciated, and valued as vital to our success. With our unique experiences, our quiet resolve, and our unlimited commitment to our patients, their families, and each other, we have become a closer-knit family and look forward to a healthier future for all.
***
I am extremely impressed with the care provided by this team and the sacrifice they made on a daily basis.
***
2020 Was a challenging and incredible year for the 1 East team with the onset of COVID. This team was amazing, open to change, and boy how their flexibility was put to the test. To help support the hospital, this team started a blood transfusion process, COVID testing (first outside, then inside) for procedural patients, became a GIP Hospice unit so families could be with their loved ones at this critical time, and became the primary unit for COVID patients - managing the expansion and contraction of the unit as needed to still allow for Observation admissions when they could be accommodated. Throughout the challenge, the unit welcomed a continuous stream of floating staff (RNs, PCTs) and because of excellent supervision, processes, communication, and teamwork, no staff themselves became infected with the COVID Virus. Communication with doctors and ancillary departments was imperative for positive outcomes for our patients, and I am proud of the relationships our unit established and grew over time.
***
Throughout this time, they have demonstrated admirable flexibility, compassionate care to the patients and their families, and outstanding teamwork. The COVID surge this past year presented many challenges to 1E. The staff was asked to switch gears many times and adapt to new protocols and types of patients. We went from seeing our regular procedural patients to COVID patients to GIP, to post-procedural again, and then back to COVID patients. Throughout, the 1E staff remained upbeat and flexible. the deaths of many of our COVID patients were emotionally traumatic for the 1E staff. They were often called to deal with grieving family members, while at the same time grieving themselves. The staff spend a lot of time talking with families and they showed great compassion in their dealings with them. Finally, the 1E staff could not have done what they did if they hadn't worked as a great team. When a staff member called into their headsets that they needed some kind of help or supply, everyone jumped to help out. This outstanding teamwork helped to ease the difficulties we faced taking care of our COVID patients. It has been a tough year for everyone, and we are looking forward to better days. Their flexibility, the compassionate care they provided, and the teamwork they demonstrated are all good reasons to award them this distinguished honor.