There was a patient readmitted for enterocutaneous fistula management. The ostomy department was working very short staffed and was supposed to focus on caring for ostomy patients only. In spite of the staffing limitations, Teresa Whipple and John Rankin went far above and beyond the call of duty to help this man; sometimes seeing him every 8-12 hours each day. They patiently devised a wound management system set-up. They ingeniously made a suction device out of an NG tube with extra holes in it.
As a result of their efforts, the patient's appliance stayed on for a longer period of time. Their creativity improved his overall comfort and skin integrity, allowed him to get some much-needed sleep, and gave him the confidence to ambulate in the hallways without fear of leakage and embarrassment. The gentleman is home now making a steady recovery.