Sue Egigian, RN, BSN is a “wonder woman” in the pediatric nursing world of case management and discharge planning. Her primary role is to work with the patients and health team for the acute care general pediatric units, MCH West, and the “core.” Her service extends to all pediatric units on some days, including the NICU, PICU, and Hem/Onc, all having very different discharge needs.

Sue has been working as a case manager for many decades and has kept up with the multitude of system changes, both within Miller Children’s Hospital and with the outside community vendors, relied on for providing the supplies and durable medical equipment families need to care for their children with special medical needs in the home. Did we mention that she has also navigated through reimbursement issues and secured discharge supplies and equipment within the constant changes of government-funded and privately-funded health insurance?

Sue’s work exemplifies patient family-centered care, partnering with families to assess and determine the plan they need for their discharge.  She plays a pivotal role among health team members, families, and other entities that will become part of the family’s lifeline for home care.

Sue consistently participates in daily care briefings on both pediatric units. She guides the health team in progressing the plan of patient care needed for discharge, identifying barriers, and confirming the anticipated discharge plan.

Sue’s attention to the detail required for patient discharges have also resulted in “good catches.” She identifies a gap in the education or planning for discharge to home and escalates the concern to the appropriate team members to mitigate the issue.

She does not carry a “magic wand,” but some days, it sure seems like she hides one in her tote bag. She interfaces with families and keeps them informed of their discharge responsibilities, relieving some of the stress of hospitalization and providing some peace of mind.  She has helped families with finding hard to locate equipment, is in constant communication with the vendors and ALWAYS goes beyond her job to ensure the family comes first and gets what is ordered and needed.

Some quotes sum up Sue’s performance from the perspective of families:
“I so appreciated Sue checking in on us, and she ensured the wheelchair was delivered to our home.”
“Sue double-checked to make sure I knew which formula was the finalized one. “
“She alleviated all my worries that I would not be discharged before having P’s needs all met.”
“Sue helped me navigate the challenging medical insurance world.”
“I am so grateful the case manager was able to find a good placement for my daughter.”

As a pediatric RN, Sue recognizes the day-to-day stress that comes with caring for a child with an unexpected acute illness or chronic condition. She understands that if she can make the lives of the families served a bit easier, then she has accomplished her goal.  Sue is most deserving of special recognition for not only doing a job that is expected but consistently caring for families and connecting them with the appropriate resources to ease the family’s transition from hospital to home.