An 83 year-old male retired service member who prefers to be seen within family medicine, despite his chronic cardiac, gastrointestinal, pulmonary medicine, ophthalmology, polypharmacy history frequently comes to family medicine with acute and chronic concerns.

While he has no qualms about following up with his primary care provider, he prefers to see Ms. Mink for routine and even acute concerns. Over several interactions, calls, and medication refills, I have seen the effort that RN Mink has gone through not to wave off an older patient nor “send to the emergency department for work up” but truly care for the patient’s needs and understanding of long drive home, differentiating factors of chronic opioid use and pain rather than cardiac chest pain.

Her thoughtful patient-centered care has saved money from extensive emergency visits and unnecessary imaging, while assuring the patient’s concerns with appropriate outpatient management. The patient has expressed to me, as a provider, his appreciation for Ms. Mink’s care and support. This is just one of many examples of interactions, which often garner unsolicited positive comments about Ms. Mink.