Judy Lewis
May 2021
Judy
Lewis
,
RN
Discharge Planner
VA Loma Linda Healthcare System
Riverside
,
CA
United States
Our discharge planner, Judy, was able to help out the wife in every possible way though the patient was not even under our care in the hospital.
Recently, we hospitalized an elderly man with Parkinson’s and chronic dementia with delirium. The patient was clearly approaching end stage dementia with total functional dependency due to his failure to thrive. Judy spent countless phone calls and hours comforting the wife and offered hospice care. The wife was not emotionally ready to accept hospice care. The patient was discharged home and his wife was obviously overwhelmed with the amount of care that was required to care for her husband. Instead of calling the patient’s primary care physician, the wife frequently contacted Judy for help and advice. Even though the patient was no longer her responsibility, Judy Lewis was still providing excellent nursing care to the family.
The patient was re-admitted 2 more times during the last 60 days. Each time, the patient’s wife contacted Judy for assistance. I know these details as the wife also contacted me for help. Our discharge planner, Judy, was able to help out the wife in every possible way though the patient was not even under our care in the hospital. The wife felt very comfortable with Judy due to their cultural similarities and Judy’s outstanding compassion and empathy for the veteran. Judy eventually convinced the wife of the need for hospice care on the 3rd hospitalization recently, though the patient was not her responsibility. The patient was finally discharged on home hospice and died shortly thereafter at home peacefully.
The veteran’s wife sent me a note commending the terrific care her husband received, especially mentioning Judy Lewis. Our nurse was able to provide comfort and empathy during her numerous phone calls with the veteran’s wife. Again, Judy did not have to talk to the wife as the patient was not under our inpatient service. However, Judy Lewis felt a special kinship with the wife and family went beyond the extra miles to make sure that this veteran died peacefully in comfort while also provided tremendous emotional support for the wife over last 2 months.
The patient was re-admitted 2 more times during the last 60 days. Each time, the patient’s wife contacted Judy for assistance. I know these details as the wife also contacted me for help. Our discharge planner, Judy, was able to help out the wife in every possible way though the patient was not even under our care in the hospital. The wife felt very comfortable with Judy due to their cultural similarities and Judy’s outstanding compassion and empathy for the veteran. Judy eventually convinced the wife of the need for hospice care on the 3rd hospitalization recently, though the patient was not her responsibility. The patient was finally discharged on home hospice and died shortly thereafter at home peacefully.
The veteran’s wife sent me a note commending the terrific care her husband received, especially mentioning Judy Lewis. Our nurse was able to provide comfort and empathy during her numerous phone calls with the veteran’s wife. Again, Judy did not have to talk to the wife as the patient was not under our inpatient service. However, Judy Lewis felt a special kinship with the wife and family went beyond the extra miles to make sure that this veteran died peacefully in comfort while also provided tremendous emotional support for the wife over last 2 months.