Tim Alsing
April 2015
Tim
Alsing
,
BSN, RN, CVN
CTICU
UPMC Shadyside
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

The CTICU was caring for a patient that was hospitalized for several months. The husband had been at his wife's side for much of her lengthy inpatient stay, but he needed to return to the Harrisburg area several hours away to check on the couple's home, catch up on mail, and take care of other household chores.

Unfortunately, when he went to his car the February frigid weather derailed his plans. The husband's vehicle battery was drained by this month's cold.

When the ICU staff heard of the husband's dilemma they swung into action. They recognized the cost of a new battery represented a financial hardship for the couple. The ICU clinician, Tim Alsing, stepped up to help. Using his own tools and borrowing others from Clinical Engineering, he and the husband bundled up and went to the Aiken Visitors Garage to install the new battery. It turned right over.

"They're a nice couple. A lot of people would have done the same thing," He said. "It was great to be part of this team effort to help them."

As cold as it was at the time- this was a great gesture.