Pam Pitsos
September 2020
Pam
Pitsos
,
RN
Cardiac Telemetry Med-Surg
Methodist North Hospital
Memphis
,
TN
United States
I want to recognize Holly Crane, RN and Pam Pitsos RN. These two outstanding nurses and friends assisted me in getting my very ill husband to the ER. I believe their actions saved his life that day. We went to my old house to move some belongings and when we arrived, he stalled us by not unlocking the front door. He did this by calling through the door. Using my key, I unlocked the door. Nothing could prepare us for the sights and smells we encountered.
There was a stench of old blood that was overwhelming and S was lying on the kitchen floor. It was obvious that he had been there for some time. He couldn't open the door because he couldn't walk. He was pale and his left leg was discolored and bloated. We immediately insisted that he needed to do to the hospital. He refused and said no way was he going. Holly made a welfare call to the police and fire department ambulance.
After they arrived, the paramedics went into the house to speak with S. He refused to be examined or allow vital signs to be taken. He again insisted he would not go. The paramedics came out and said they couldn't make him go and the police officer said this was a social worker issue. This is where my friends used their skills. They both talked to the police officers and the paramedics to insist that S was not thinking clearly and was a threat to himself. They went on to point out that this was a situation that was only going to get worse if he didn't receive immediate medical care. One of the police officers came in to tell us that he was taking over the situation and S would indeed be going to the ER. The choice was no longer his. I was so thankful.
Only after S was placed on the stretcher did we realize that his left foot wound was severely infected. I am so thankful that Holly and Pam would not accept no for an answer and convinced the police/paramedics that S had to go to the ER now.
S was admitted to ICU with severe sepsis, gas gangrene and had surgery the following morning. I am so thankful for my friends who came with me for my protection and instead served as advocates for S. I truly believe he would not have made it another week if we had not insisted that he be taken to the hospital.
There was a stench of old blood that was overwhelming and S was lying on the kitchen floor. It was obvious that he had been there for some time. He couldn't open the door because he couldn't walk. He was pale and his left leg was discolored and bloated. We immediately insisted that he needed to do to the hospital. He refused and said no way was he going. Holly made a welfare call to the police and fire department ambulance.
After they arrived, the paramedics went into the house to speak with S. He refused to be examined or allow vital signs to be taken. He again insisted he would not go. The paramedics came out and said they couldn't make him go and the police officer said this was a social worker issue. This is where my friends used their skills. They both talked to the police officers and the paramedics to insist that S was not thinking clearly and was a threat to himself. They went on to point out that this was a situation that was only going to get worse if he didn't receive immediate medical care. One of the police officers came in to tell us that he was taking over the situation and S would indeed be going to the ER. The choice was no longer his. I was so thankful.
Only after S was placed on the stretcher did we realize that his left foot wound was severely infected. I am so thankful that Holly and Pam would not accept no for an answer and convinced the police/paramedics that S had to go to the ER now.
S was admitted to ICU with severe sepsis, gas gangrene and had surgery the following morning. I am so thankful for my friends who came with me for my protection and instead served as advocates for S. I truly believe he would not have made it another week if we had not insisted that he be taken to the hospital.