Brad Breeden
December 2017
Brad
Breeden
,
RN-BC
Med/Surg
Baylor Scott & White Hospital - College Station
College Station
,
TX
United States
My 72-year-old wife was the patient in your hospital due to a back injury. We reside in Orange, TX and were visiting our son's family in College Station. Orange is approximately 200 miles from College Station. The accident occurred about 7:00 in the morning when she fell on her back while attempting to climb onto a tall breakfast barstool. She was transported to your emergency room by ambulance and after examination, it was determined she had fractured T12 and L1 vertebras.
Fortunately, no surgery was needed but she was admitted for pain control. The pain was controlled with the aid of morphine and pain pills and when the staff was able to control the pain with the pill, she was released with a prescription for 45 Hydrocodone pain pills. She and I returned to our son's home for recuperation and to await a follow-up visit with the specialists.
Her hydrocodone lasted eight days through the Christmas holiday but then we were down to three pills. Here in lies the problem. I went to the outpatient pharmacy but was told they couldn't request a refill because of the nature of the hydrocodone. I then went to the hospital and was informed by three different employees that the resident doctors couldn't prescribe the medicine because, after discharge from the hospital, she was no longer their patient.
I was advised to contact her primary physician for the prescription, but that suggestion was not feasible. Her doctor was 200 miles away and was not aware of her accident. This is the point that Brad Breeden entered the equation.
After ensuring that I understood the Hospital's limitations, Brad began searching for a solution. He hit dead ends a couple of times but then he figured it out. He contacted the P.A. that represented the specialists in the emergency room. Since she was now their patient for a follow-up visit, their P.A. was allowed by the guidelines to issue the prescription. At this point, he could have advised me to check with the P.A. for the medicine, but he didn't. Brad made all the phone calls.
The P.A. was off duty at the time, so Brad needed to make another call the P.A. on call. It should be noted that Brad wasn't satisfied until he knew that my wife's needs were being taken care of. He operated within the guidelines and still was able to complete the mission. This compassion, understanding, and going the extra mile for the patient must be what the DAISY Award is all about.
Fortunately, no surgery was needed but she was admitted for pain control. The pain was controlled with the aid of morphine and pain pills and when the staff was able to control the pain with the pill, she was released with a prescription for 45 Hydrocodone pain pills. She and I returned to our son's home for recuperation and to await a follow-up visit with the specialists.
Her hydrocodone lasted eight days through the Christmas holiday but then we were down to three pills. Here in lies the problem. I went to the outpatient pharmacy but was told they couldn't request a refill because of the nature of the hydrocodone. I then went to the hospital and was informed by three different employees that the resident doctors couldn't prescribe the medicine because, after discharge from the hospital, she was no longer their patient.
I was advised to contact her primary physician for the prescription, but that suggestion was not feasible. Her doctor was 200 miles away and was not aware of her accident. This is the point that Brad Breeden entered the equation.
After ensuring that I understood the Hospital's limitations, Brad began searching for a solution. He hit dead ends a couple of times but then he figured it out. He contacted the P.A. that represented the specialists in the emergency room. Since she was now their patient for a follow-up visit, their P.A. was allowed by the guidelines to issue the prescription. At this point, he could have advised me to check with the P.A. for the medicine, but he didn't. Brad made all the phone calls.
The P.A. was off duty at the time, so Brad needed to make another call the P.A. on call. It should be noted that Brad wasn't satisfied until he knew that my wife's needs were being taken care of. He operated within the guidelines and still was able to complete the mission. This compassion, understanding, and going the extra mile for the patient must be what the DAISY Award is all about.