The CEO and Risk Manager had the privilege of speaking to a current patient and his sons. The patient was admitted to Med-Surg and later transitioned to Swing Bed Status. During this same time, his wife was also a patient here. Her condition deteriorated and she was made a comfort care and eventually passed away at our facility.

While they had wonderful things to say about every teammate, they expressed extreme gratitude for Tera O'Dell. Tera went above and beyond her role as Case Manager, not only for the patient but for the entire family. Tera arranged for the children to be in the room with their mother in her last days and for the husband to be able to hold his wife's hand while she took her last breath. Since her death, Tera has continued to not only do her job in managing the patient's care and discharge plan, but also checked on the entire family just to make sure they were doing ok after their loss. She even provided a room and privacy for the family to meet with their lawyers regarding the wife's estate and update the husband's legal affairs. She went so far as to provide pens, paper, and clipboards during the meeting.

Tera O'Dell not only represents St. Luke's Hospital as an exemplary associate but also is a shining example of the nursing profession. She is the standard of which every nurse should work to achieve.