Cathi Gregory is an Optima After Hours Triage Nurse who shows compassion and care to every patient she talks to every day and every shift she works. The incident she was nominated for involved a patient that was on an out-of-area snowboarding trip with friends. While out enjoying the day, he was hit by another snowboarder. Ski Patrol was on the scene and did a quick patch up job and advised him he needed to get to the hospital for stitches and also for a full examination. He was at Snowshoe and called mom (don't they always) when he was on the road back to Fairfax with his buddies. The problem was, he did not know where to go. Mom called After Hours and was thankful Cathi answered the phone!
Cathi walked Mom through what to do for her son, who could pass along the information to him in the car. She helped find a hospital that was in-network, talked about the ER benefits and directed him there. More importantly, not only was her clinical expertise regarding the wound and possible head injury appreciated but the compassion Cathi showed helped calm a worried mom and was comforting on so many different levels. She understood that mom was in Virginia Beach and her son so far away. He ended up with 34 stitches and a mild concussion. Thank goodness he was responsible and wearing a helmet.
Cathi demonstrates the compassionate care that embodies the DAISY Award every day. We are so lucky to have her and we congratulate her on DAISY Award.