Robin Rothfork serves as a role model for HBPC staff and exhibits excellent leadership and clinical skills. She started in HBPC on 11/1/15, transferring from her role as a staff nurse in the CLC. Robin volunteered to cover as RN case manager for the Alexandria HBPC program due to staff vacancy. She drove to the Alexandria CBOC 2-3 days per week to provide home care services to Veterans from January 2016 through August 2016 until a new HBPC RN was hired. This allowed for on-going care of Veterans in the home setting without interruption in care. Robin also continues to cover in all of the HBPC areas in times of need related to changes in staff workload which have allowed the HBPC program to continue to provide high-quality care. She has covered for visits in Glencoe, Brainerd, and further coverage in Alexandria. She does so always with the best interest of the Veteran in mind, without hesitation and adjusting her schedule to meet the needs of each individual Veteran. She is flexible, dependable and efficient in her role as an HBPC RN case manager. Robin continues to pick up additional shifts in the CLC on weekends to assist in the care of our long term Veterans. Robin is the first to also volunteer to be involved in process improvement projects for HBPC, providing input to clinical processes and best practices to ensure the quality of care. Her knowledge and clinical skills in the home setting are excellent, she is able to work independently and give appropriate medical advice and care in the home setting.
A Veteran she saw in the home and assessed him, she noticed he had a change in his condition. The veteran had fallen prior to her arrival to the home and was reported by Veteran and spouse that he had fallen approximately 6 additional times over the last week. On her nursing assessment, the Veteran was lightheaded, his ambulation had changed and his blood pressure was low. The Veteran had a change in his medication a week prior by cardiology. Robin advised the Veteran and wife to be seen in Urgent Care related to his symptoms. The Veteran was seen in Urgent Care and cardiology did make medication adjustments related to his change in condition. Robin then followed up with the Veteran by telephone to ensure he was doing better and that Veteran and spouse were aware and had made the medication adjustment.
We received a voice mail from the Veteran's spouse in regard to Robin. She called in the hopes of getting Robin a "commendation" as she felt that she had "saved her husband's life" on that day. She also wanted to thank Robin and the HBPC program for the care she and her husband are receiving. She ended with "Please take care of Robin, we love her, take care of her."