I recently found myself unexpectedly admitted to OHSU's 11K unit due to a small heart attack that I was experiencing. While every member of the 11K staff was incredibly helpful and provided me with excellent patient care, Dani Chiero's care, compassion, and professional expertise stood out above the rest. As I understand it, being a patient on the intermediate cardiovascular medicine unit means that the nurse/patient ratio is higher than an intensive care unit and rightly so. However, while I was in the midst of my heart attack and experiencing fluctuations in my physical condition on a rapid basis, Dani made the decision to just stay with me in my room to provide needed care and recruited other team members to assist with my care and the care of the other patients she was assigned that day. Patient safety was her focus. In addition, Dani delivered the care with great compassion. The medications I was prescribed for pain and to expand my blood vessels carried side effects that made me feel very sick. At one point, I was opting to decline treatment because of this. Dani's compassionate understanding and calm manner convinced me that continuing the medications was the best way to treat my condition.
After the attack subsided and I had a bit of time to mentally process the experience, I became somewhat emotional. Once again, demonstrating compassionate understanding, Dani listened to my fears and concerns, provide me with insight based on data and her experience with heart patients and encouraged me to discuss topics with my doctors. Thank you, Dani Chiero. Having a heart attack is not an experience I envisioned having. That said, I'm glad that you were the one providing my care when it happened.