June 2020 Honoree
sam malinowski, MSN, FNP
The Nurse Practitioner I would like to recognize today very possibly saved my life. I presented to the clinic with symptoms of a respiratory infection and fever. I shared with her that based on experience, I felt I may have pneumonia.
She listened to my concerns and ordered a chest x-ray. It turned out that my lungs were clear, however, I had cardiomegaly. I had read my results in the waiting room prior to being called back to discuss my results.
When I asked her about the cardiomegaly, instead of referring me back to my primary care doctor she started looking back in my chart to see if it was noticed on previous x rays. As she started looking back and seeing results that might indicate when it may have started, she noticed a diagnosis from a CT scan in 2018 that showed an aortic aneurism that I had never been informed of.
As we continued to visit and it became clear to her that it was a serious issue that was previously missed, she started putting things into place in order to make sure I was seen and taken care of for a situation that is most often undiagnosed and fatal.
I got a call the next day from the Case Manager from her department and was scheduled with a doctor the same day.
If Sam would not have gone above and beyond to answer my question it would still be a serious diagnosis that was missed. I feel like she took personal responsibility and went over and above to potentially save my life.
I want to thank her by helping her receive recognition for the care I got!
She listened to my concerns and ordered a chest x-ray. It turned out that my lungs were clear, however, I had cardiomegaly. I had read my results in the waiting room prior to being called back to discuss my results.
When I asked her about the cardiomegaly, instead of referring me back to my primary care doctor she started looking back in my chart to see if it was noticed on previous x rays. As she started looking back and seeing results that might indicate when it may have started, she noticed a diagnosis from a CT scan in 2018 that showed an aortic aneurism that I had never been informed of.
As we continued to visit and it became clear to her that it was a serious issue that was previously missed, she started putting things into place in order to make sure I was seen and taken care of for a situation that is most often undiagnosed and fatal.
I got a call the next day from the Case Manager from her department and was scheduled with a doctor the same day.
If Sam would not have gone above and beyond to answer my question it would still be a serious diagnosis that was missed. I feel like she took personal responsibility and went over and above to potentially save my life.
I want to thank her by helping her receive recognition for the care I got!
Thank you, Sam, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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