Patricia Belsher, Judy Cross, Melissa Ward
November 2014
Patricia Belsher, Judy Cross,
Melissa Ward
,
RN, BSN, RNC
Birth-Parenting Education
St. Luke's Medical Center
Boise
,
ID
United States
Patricia Belsher, RN, BSN, RNC - Birth-Parenting Education
Judy Cross, RN, MSN, RNC - Women's Services Administration
Melissa Ward, RN, BSN - Case Management
On August 19, 2014 Melissa Ward (RN, BSN, Boise Mother Baby Care Unit Case Manager) received a very distraught call from a non-St. Luke's practitioner regarding a former St. Luke's patient who was five weeks postpartum. The practitioner believed the patient to be suffering from very severe postpartum depression. Melissa then got in contact with Judy Cross (RN, MSN, RNC, Women's Services Clinical Nurse Specialist) and Patricia Belsher (RN, BSN, RNC, St. Luke's Birth & Parenting Patient Instructor / Postpartum Depression Follow-up Call Nurse) regarding the patient. They were then able to collaborate with the practitioner to develop a plan of care for the patient.
Patricia and Judy collaborated on the phone and with Patricia's urging the patient presented to St. Luke's Boise Emergency Department where she met Judy, and a postpartum depression screening was performed. The patient scored extremely high risk as well as verbalized thoughts of self-harm. A plan of action was made to provide the patient with the care and resources she required to prevent worsening of her condition.
The patient expressed her gratitude in saying that her "life was saved". I believe this statement shows how the quick action of Judy, Melissa and Patricia, along with the patient's primary care provider, truly showed the remarkable ongoing care and concern for this, and all of our postpartum patients - along with how seriously we take postpartum depression. These ladies truly did save a life.
Judy Cross, RN, MSN, RNC - Women's Services Administration
Melissa Ward, RN, BSN - Case Management
On August 19, 2014 Melissa Ward (RN, BSN, Boise Mother Baby Care Unit Case Manager) received a very distraught call from a non-St. Luke's practitioner regarding a former St. Luke's patient who was five weeks postpartum. The practitioner believed the patient to be suffering from very severe postpartum depression. Melissa then got in contact with Judy Cross (RN, MSN, RNC, Women's Services Clinical Nurse Specialist) and Patricia Belsher (RN, BSN, RNC, St. Luke's Birth & Parenting Patient Instructor / Postpartum Depression Follow-up Call Nurse) regarding the patient. They were then able to collaborate with the practitioner to develop a plan of care for the patient.
Patricia and Judy collaborated on the phone and with Patricia's urging the patient presented to St. Luke's Boise Emergency Department where she met Judy, and a postpartum depression screening was performed. The patient scored extremely high risk as well as verbalized thoughts of self-harm. A plan of action was made to provide the patient with the care and resources she required to prevent worsening of her condition.
The patient expressed her gratitude in saying that her "life was saved". I believe this statement shows how the quick action of Judy, Melissa and Patricia, along with the patient's primary care provider, truly showed the remarkable ongoing care and concern for this, and all of our postpartum patients - along with how seriously we take postpartum depression. These ladies truly did save a life.