We had a gentleman admitted to our unit from the ED. Shortly after being admitted to SICU the man had to be transferred to a hospital in the city to a higher level of care that ORMC was unable to provide. It came to the attention of Sandy Schwinzer that the patient had no family and that his own beloved companion, his dog, was now left home alone with no one to care for it.
Sandy made multiple phone calls throughout the night to the authorities as well as animal control. After working all night in the high acuity SICU/CICU, Sandy, whose shift ended at 0730 am, arranged to meet the animal control officer at 1100 am at this gentleman's home. As of this date, the man still remains hospitalized in the city, and Sandy graciously cares for his beloved dog by sacrificing her personal time and effort by driving to his home twice a day and providing care and love to this dog until he is reunited with his owner. Sandy has gone above and beyond and for this patient.