We had a patient with a diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer. She was to be discharged home the day before Thanksgiving on four IV antibiotics. On the day of discharge, we were informed the home health agency would not be able to get out to her house to administer the antibiotics until the following Monday. The patient made the comment to her nurse that she was upset because this was probably the last Thanksgiving she would be able to spend with her family.

Jessica called the doctor and asked if she could be discharged to Hospital at Home so the paramedics could come to give her antibiotics. The doctor said yes, but her antibiotics were scheduled for three times a day, and Hospital at Home could not meet those requirements. She then called the infectious disease doctor and told her story. The doctor changed the antibiotics to something that could be given only twice a day.

This patient was able to be discharged home to her family for Thanksgiving because of Jessica!