October 2017
Susan
Rackley
,
MSN, CCRN, RN
Home Based Primary Care
Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center
Muskogee
,
OK
United States

 

 

 

Recently a Veteran went to wound care at our VA and was instructed to go to the ER because he was ill, instead, he went home. Ms. Rackley called the Veteran after reading the note in his chart that his wife reported he was ill and not acting right. Even though it was after hours for Ms. Rackley, she went to his home to check on him. She found his BP to be low and he had a high fever. She spent a great deal of time at the home trying to convince this Veteran to go back to the ER. He adamantly refused to go via ambulance but did finally agree when she stated he could go in his car and she would follow him and his wife. Ms. Rackley called the ER and provided a full report, she stayed in the ER with this Veteran and his wife. Her actions ensured he received emergency care for what turned out to be a severe kidney infection and kidney failure. Ms. Rackley is relatively new to the home based primary care program, however, her actions went above and beyond and embraced the concept of patient-centered care.