The CVICU is saying goodbye to Kathy Renn, one of our most supportive and loved case managers. Kathy has recently transferred to the Quality Resources Department as a Quality Advisor. During her time in the CVICU, she transformed the everyday chaos into a routine of organization and commitment to patient satisfaction. She worked diligently on our discharge process, our mid-levels, and our nursing team to ensure that every patient has the most optimal stay and discharge possible. Kathy is not just a case manager that sits at her desk and enters information; she is a hands-on, come to the bedside, meet the family, gather the team up type person. She's been influential with the weekly multi-disciplinary rounds, with all of the members from rehab, transplant, mid-levels, nursing, Social Work and Child Life, just about any one that would be included in a plan of care in order to optimize the discharge process days to weeks before it ever happens.

On two occasions, Kathy designed an at-home program for Spanish-speaking families who could not read. She not only spent the time to create a home med schedule (complete with a moon and a sun to signify day/night meds), she also went above and beyond to color code each medication and its appropriate syringe. She alerted outlying pharmacies to this process and closed every loop to ensure these patients would receive every medication on time. Kathy created checklists that print out on our patient's departure to help families know more about their lengthy stay here. No matter what the task, Kathy takes it on. Our unit has absolutely transformed under the guidance and leadership that she provides. She's a mentor to me and to many others. In her free time, she still carries on the All Children's name. She has coached the softball team over the past several years.